Musk's Texas Spending Fails to Sway His SpaceX Hometown Voters

Elon Musk's record-breaking political spending failed to sway voters in Cameron County, Texas, home to his SpaceX Starbase facility, where Democrats won overwhelming victories in the 2026 midterms. The county backed Democrat Gina Hinojosa for governor over Republican Greg Abbott by 67 percent to 32 percent. Hinojosa, a Brownsville native, campaigned against Abbott's close ties to Musk, framing the election as a choice between billionaire influence and ordinary Texans. She accused Abbott of giving Musk "the keys to the castle" and cited disputes over Boca Chica Beach, tax incentives, and economic development decisions. Musk spent over $445 million on Republican causes, including about $225 million in Texas races. Cameron County, a 400,000-resident, predominantly Hispanic area, has benefited from SpaceX's economic investment, projected to generate over $13 billion in output through 2026. Analysts suggest Musk's visibility became a political liability, with Hinojosa vowing to work with Musk but on terms that include new laws to protect Texans.