Elon Musk Spent Big on the Midterms. His Texas Neighbors Voted Differently
Cameron County, home to SpaceX's launch site, overwhelmingly backed Democrats despite Elon Musk's spending on Texas Republicans.
Elon Musk, the billionaire behind SpaceX and Tesla, poured a staggering $445 million into political campaigns in Texas, primarily supporting Republican candidates and causes. This significant investment was made during the 2026 midterm elections. Despite Musk's substantial political spending, Cameron County, home to SpaceX's Starbase launch facility near Boca Chica, delivered major victories to Democratic candidates.
In this county, James Talarico narrowly defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton by 68% to 30%, while Democrat Gina Hinojosa decisively outpaced Republican Governor Greg Abbott with 67% to 32% of the vote. Hinojosa's campaign highlighted the tension between Musk's economic contributions to the region and her opposition to the close relationship between Musk and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Hinojosa vowed to work with Musk on "our terms," emphasizing the need for state laws to protect Texans amid rising costs and declining public services.
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