A special election in Cameron County, Texas has officially established Elon Musk’s SpaceX facility as “Starbase,” a new city, with voters overwhelmingly approving the incorporation measure by a margin of 173 to 4 (only 143 votes were needed for the measure to pass), according to election records.
The vote marks a significant milestone for SpaceX‘s presence in South Texas and realizes Musk’s 2021 vision to create a municipality centered around his rocket company’s launch facility.
Why It Matters
Starbase is the facility and launch site for the SpaceX rocket program that is under contract with the Department of Defense (DoD) and NASA that aims to send astronauts back to the moon and potentially to Mars.
The creation of this company town represents a significant victory for Musk and SpaceX at a time when the tech billionaire has faced growing criticism. As the leader of President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has overseen several controversial federal job cuts that have diminished his public standing. Meanwhile, profits at his electric vehicle company, Tesla, have reportedly plummeted.
The incorporation could fundamentally shift local authority dynamics by potentially giving SpaceX significant control over governance matters that directly impact its operations. Most notably, the new city status may allow Starbase officials, themselves SpaceX employees, to approve beach and park closures during rocket launches instead of requiring permission from Cameron County authorities.
SpaceX rocket launches and engine tests, as well as specific equipment around the launch base requires the closure of a local highway and access to Boca Chica State Park and Boca Chica Beach. This comes as SpaceX reportedly seeks federal approval to increase annual launches at the site from five to 25.
Starbase, TexasIs now a real city!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 4, 2025
What To Know
Starbase encompasses approximately 1.5 square miles at the southern tip of Texas along the coast near the Mexico border.
The voting population consisted of just 283 eligible voters, the majority of whom are believed to be SpaceX employees or people connected to the company.
The election also selected Bobby Pedden as the city’s first mayor, along with Jordan Buss and Jenna Petrzelka as city commissioners, all SpaceX employees who ran unopposed, reports NBC News.
According to Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders, the company already manages roads, utilities, schooling, and medical care for residents on the property.
Companion bills in the Texas Legislature would shift beach closure authority from the county to the new city government, with one proposed bill making it a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail, for failing to comply with beach evacuation orders.
What People Are Saying
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk celebrated the election results Saturday night on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “Starbase, Texas Is now a real city!
Remi Garza, Cameron County Elections Administrator: “It’s officially statistically impossible for the measure to fail. Cameron County is about to have a new city.”
Kathryn Lueders, Starbase General Manager, wrote to Texas officials in 2024: “We need the ability to grow Starbase as a community.”
Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino told NBC News: “Right now that authority lies solely within Cameron County and my office, and we think that we’ve proven to be good collaborators and partners with SpaceX in their operations and also in making sure and providing enough notice and public access to Boca Chica Beach.”
What Happens Next
With city status secured, attention will turn to the formalization process and potential legislative changes that could affect local governance. While SpaceX has not detailed specific plans for the newly incorporated city, the change in municipal status could ease restrictions around rocket launches and testing.
However, resistance is expected from local environmental groups and community organizations like the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, the South Texas Environmental Justice Network, and Border Workers United, who have organized protests against potential restrictions on public beach access.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
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