Voters in a small area of Cameron County, Texas, overwhelmingly approved a measure Saturday to incorporate Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket complex near Brownsville as a new municipality to be called ‘Starbase.’
Unofficial results released Saturday night showed a resounding 98% support among the 177 ballots cast in favor of establishing the town. The proposed boundaries of Starbase encompass key SpaceX facilities and company-tied housing. Most eligible voters within this area are employees or affiliates of SpaceX.
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The successful vote marks a significant step towards creating a rare company-run town. Once county commissioners certify the election results, Starbase will gain official status as a municipality under Texas law.
As an incorporated town, Starbase will assume responsibilities for functions such as zoning, budgeting, and staffing. It will also be required to adhere to state transparency mandates, including holding open meetings and maintaining public records.
SpaceX has offered limited public details about its long-term plans for Starbase. However, company officials have previously indicated that municipal incorporation could help streamline operations and better support the growth of their workforce in the area.
SpaceX Vice President Bobby Peden was elected as the new town’s mayor. Legal experts have pointed out that Texas state law includes provisions addressing potential conflicts of interest for public officials who are also employed by private companies operating within the municipality.
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Local government officials have generally expressed support for SpaceX’s presence, citing the substantial economic benefits it brings to the region, including thousands of jobs and significant tourism revenue generated by activity at Starbase. SpaceX reportedly employs around 3,400 workers and contractors at the site.
However, the rapid expansion and increasing rocket activity have also raised concerns among some local residents and environmental groups. These worries include potential impacts from frequent launches, limited access to nearby public beaches, and the unique challenges presented by a municipality with such close ties to the private company that founded it.
The Starbase facility has become a critical hub for Elon Musk’s ambitious vision for human spaceflight, particularly the development and testing of SpaceX’s nearly 400-foot-tall Starship rocket, designed for future missions to the moon and Mars. While early test flights have faced setbacks including explosions, recent missions have demonstrated progress with partial recovery capabilities. Musk himself has referred to the area as a “Gateway to Mars.”
Although Starbase is widely considered Musk’s brainchild – he announced the idea in 2021 and has encouraged employees to relocate there while significantly expanding his personal and corporate footprint in Texas, including moving his primary residence and key businesses to the state – he will not hold a formal political role within the newly incorporated town’s government. Musk currently resides in a compound in Austin.
The certification process by Cameron County commissioners is the next step before Starbase officially begins operating as a recognized Texas municipality, setting the stage for this novel form of company-affiliated governance.
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