Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa introduced members of her bipartisan transition team at a news conference Thursday, which she said was in keeping with a campaign promise. The team includes former Republican State Rep. Ernest Bailes, who served in the Texas House from 2017 to 2025. Hinojosa described Bailes as a champion for public schools. Bailes said the team would set partisanship aside and work on education.
Hinojosa also introduced Joe Madden as her executive director. Madden previously worked on the transition of government in Harris County. Ryan Pollock, a union electrician and executive director of the Texas Building Trades Council, was named as part of the team.
Hinojosa said that elected leaders should respect what the people of Texas have said. She said she looks forward to working with Republican leaders in the Texas Legislature and that her team has been in communication with Gov. Greg Abbott's team. Hinojosa also said she has begun interviewing potential replacements for Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath and plans to terminate him on her first day in office.