Texas Democrats Target Musk's Empire After His $225M Bet on the State

Elon Musk's $225 million investment in Texas faces new opposition as Democratic Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa and other state Democrats plan to scrutinize his Tesla and SpaceX projects, ending years of favorable treatment from Republican leaders. Hinojosa, who defeated incumbent Greg Abbott, is suing to obtain communications between his office and Musk and campaigned on slowing data-center development and opposing certain land deals. Democrats criticize approvals for Musk's projects as unprecedented, particularly the transfer of federal wildlife refuge land to SpaceX and proposed sales of public parks. Incoming Democrats say they want to maintain Texas's business-friendly climate but without preferential treatment for Musk, potentially offering incentives to competitors. Musk moved his operations to Texas in 2020, citing frustration with California regulations, and received tax breaks, infrastructure benefits, and legal protections from state leaders.