Voters in Cameron County, Texas, overwhelmingly approved Saturday a measure to incorporate Elon Musk’s rocket complex near Brownsville as a new municipality called Starbase.
Unofficial results posted Saturday night showed 98% of the 177 ballots cast supported the creation of the town, which includes SpaceX facilities and housing tied to the company, according to The Wall Street Journal. Only residents living within the proposed town’s boundaries were eligible to vote, most of whom work for or are affiliated with SpaceX.
Once county commissioners certify the election, Starbase will begin operating as an official municipality under Texas law, which marks the launch of a rare company-run town where most residents are tied to SpaceX. The new town will oversee zoning, budgeting, and staffing while adhering to state transparency rules such as open meetings and public records requirements.
SpaceX has said little publicly about its plans, but company officials previously suggested the town could help streamline operations and support workforce growth. SpaceX vice president Bobby Peden was elected mayor of the new town and legal experts noted that state law includes conflict-of-interest rules for public officials employed by private firms operating within the municipality.
Local officials have expressed support for the company due to the thousands of jobs and tourism revenue generated by Starbase since SpaceX employs roughly 3,400 workers and contractors at Starbase. However, some residents and environmental groups remain concerned about increased rocket activity, limited beach access, and the town’s close ties to the company that created it.
The Starbase site has become central to Musk’s vision of human spaceflight, particularly SpaceX’s development of Starship, a nearly 400-foot rocket designed for missions to the moon and Mars. Though early test flights have ended in explosions, recent missions have demonstrated partial recovery capabilities and Musk described the area as a “Gateway to Mars.”
Musk will not hold a formal political role in Starbase, but the town is his brainchild, and since announcing the idea in 2021, he has urged employees to move there and expanded his personal and corporate presence in Texas. He relocated his primary residence and key businesses to the state and now lives in a $35 million compound in Austin.
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