# Buddy Jones | Best in Government Affairs TX 2026 > Buddy Jones, Senior Partner & Co-Founder at HillCo Partners, is a 2026 Best in Government Affairs Texas honoree, recognized as Lobby Legends of the Year. Canonical: https://www.uslege.ai/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/buddy-jones --- [Best in Government Affairs](/best-in-government-affairs)› [Texas](/best-in-government-affairs/texas)› [2026](/best-in-government-affairs/texas#honorees)› [Lobby Legends of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/most-powerful-lobbyists)› **Buddy Jones** USLege · Best in Government Affairs · Texas Texas · 2026 Honoree ![Buddy Jones, Senior Partner & Co-Founder at HillCo Partners. Winner, Lobby Legends of the Year, 2026 Best in Government Affairs Texas](/assets/awards/tx-2026/buddy-jones.jpg) Category [Lobby Legends of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/most-powerful-lobbyists) Organization [HillCo Partners](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/firms#hillco-partners) Title Senior Partner & Co-Founder [View LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/neal-jones-3603b91a7) [Visit HillCo Partners](https://hillcopartners.com) [07 · Lobby Legends of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/most-powerful-lobbyists) # Buddy Jones **Senior Partner & Co-Founder**, HillCo Partners Buddy Jones, Senior Partner & Co-Founder at HillCo Partners, is a 2026 Best in Government Affairs Texas honoree in the Lobby Legends of the Year category. The awards are peer-nominated. For more than four decades, Buddy Jones has been one of the most recognizable and respected figures in Texas government affairs. As Senior Partner and Co-Founder of HillCo Partners, Buddy has represented some of the state’s and nation’s top clients. Building a legacy defined by results, relationships, and integrity. A former state representative and Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the Texas House, Buddy’s political instincts and institutional knowledge are unmatched. Those who work alongside him describe him simply as “the one you want on your side.” His peers call him “a legend whose experience and relationships shape the Capitol itself,” and note that “no ranking of hired guns in Texas would be legitimate without Buddy at the top.” Even after decades at the pinnacle of the profession, Buddy continues to set the bar. “He’s been at the top of the list over and over and somehow only gets better each year,” one nominator shared. “Every office, staffer, and client he works with feels his best effort.” Known for mentoring countless rising advocates and leading by example, Buddy embodies what it means to represent the best of Texas lobbying, professionalism grounded in purpose, and influence earned through trust. As one of this year’s Lobby Legends, Buddy Jones represents the enduring strength, credibility, and commitment that define the very best in Texas government affairs. Share this honor [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uslege.ai%2Fbest-in-government-affairs%2Ftexas%2F2026%2Fbuddy-jones) [Share on X](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uslege.ai%2Fbest-in-government-affairs%2Ftexas%2F2026%2Fbuddy-jones&text=Buddy%20Jones%3A%20Lobby%20Legends%20of%20the%20Year%2C%202026%20Best%20in%20Government%20Affairs%20Texas) Same category ## More _Lobby Legends of the Year_ honorees. [![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/rusty-kelley.jpg) **Rusty Kelley**Blackridge](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/rusty-kelley)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/robert-miller.jpg) **Robert Miller**Troutman Pepper Locke ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/robert-miller)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/mike-toomey.jpg) **Mike Toomey**Mike Toomey & Associates ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/mike-toomey)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/mignon-mcgarry.jpg) **Mignon McGarry**Mignon McGarry & Associates ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/mignon-mcgarry)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/kent-hance.jpg) **Kent Hance**Hance Scarborough ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/kent-hance)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/john-r-pitts-sr.jpg) **John R. Pitts, Sr.**Texas Star Alliance ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/john-r-pitts-sr)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/jay-howard.jpg) **Jay Howard**HillCo Partners ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/jay-howard)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/jack-erskine.jpg) **Jack Erskine**Self-employed ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/jack-erskine)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/gavin-massingill.jpg) **Gavin Massingill**Carriage House Partners ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/gavin-massingill)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/brad-shields.jpg) **Brad Shields**Texas Legislative Associates](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/brad-shields) Also honored from [HillCo Partners](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/firms#hillco-partners): [Marsha Jones](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/marsha-jones), [Jay Howard](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/jay-howard), [Kyle Mauro](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/kyle-mauro). [All Texas honorees](/best-in-government-affairs/texas#honorees) [Lobby Legends of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/most-powerful-lobbyists) [Honorees by firm](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/firms) The platform behind the awards ## Track the Texas Legislature the way _honorees do_. USLege covers every Texas bill, hearing, and floor debate with live video, transcripts, and cited AI answers. See why the people on this page use it. [Explore USLege Texas](/states/texas) [Built for lobbyists](/for/lobbyists)