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BOCA CHICA, Texas — On May 3, 2025, a small group of residents in Cameron County, Texas, will cast ballots to determine whether Starbase, the site of SpaceX’s rocket development and launch facility, becomes an official incorporated city.

Early voting began on April 22, marking a significant step toward realizing SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s vision of transforming the coastal area into a municipality named Starbase, Texas. The election, approved by Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. on February 12, 2025, follows a petition submitted by SpaceX employees in December 2024.

Starbase, located near Boca Chica Beach, approximately 25 miles east of Brownsville, is home to fewer than 500 residents, including about 120 children. The proposed city spans roughly 1.5 square miles, with SpaceX owning nearly all of the 247 lots within its boundaries, except for 10. The majority of voters are SpaceX employees or their families, living in company-owned housing, making the vote’s outcome widely anticipated to favor incorporation. The lone polling site, a private SpaceX facility typically closed to the public, reported sparse early turnout, with only 279 registered voters eligible to participate.

The push for incorporation began in 2021 when Musk first proposed creating “the city of Starbase, Texas” on social media. In December 2024, over 70 residents, mostly SpaceX employees, signed a petition requesting an election to establish Starbase as a Type C municipality, defined as a community of less than two square miles with 200 to 5,000 residents.

If approved, Starbase would operate under a commission form of government, with a mayor and two commissioners. Bobby Peden is the sole candidate for mayor, with Jordan Buss and Jenna Petrzelka running unopposed for the commissioner roles, replacing earlier candidate Gunnar Milburn.

SpaceX’s general manager, Kathryn Lueders, stated in a December 2024 letter to Treviño that incorporation would “streamline the processes required to build the amenities necessary to make the area a world-class place to live.” The company, which employs over 3,400 full-time workers and contractors at Starbase, already manages roads, utilities, schools, and medical care due to the area’s remote location. Incorporation would transfer these responsibilities to a municipal government, potentially easing SpaceX’s operational challenges, such as road and beach closures for rocket launches.

The move has sparked mixed reactions. Proponents, including SpaceX, argue that Starbase’s incorporation will boost economic growth in the Rio Grande Valley, one of the nation’s poorest regions, by creating jobs and attracting investment. However, environmental groups have raised concerns about the ecological impact of SpaceX’s activities. In July 2024, organizations like Save RGV and the Center for Biological Diversity filed lawsuits alleging that SpaceX’s operations, including wastewater discharge, harm local wetlands and endangered species like the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. SpaceX has denied these claims, citing state reviews that found no significant environmental risks.

Additionally, proposed Texas legislation, including Senate Bill 2188 and House Bill 4660, could grant Starbase authority to close Boca Chica Beach and State Highway 4 on weekdays for launches, a power currently held by Cameron County. While the county retains control over weekend closures, critics worry that increased SpaceX control could limit public beach access, a contentious issue for nearby Brownsville residents and conservationists.

If voters approve incorporation, Starbase would become Cameron County’s first new city since Los Indios in 1995. The elected leaders will face immediate challenges, including establishing a city charter, setting a budget, and determining services like police or fire protection. Experts suggest the city’s priorities will likely align closely with SpaceX’s goals, resembling a modern company town akin to Sugar Land, Texas, which grew around the Imperial Sugar Company in the early 20th century.

As voting continues, the outcome will shape not only the future of Starbase but also SpaceX’s ambitions to make the region a “Gateway to Mars,” as Musk envisions. The election concludes on May 3, with results expected to confirm whether the city of Starbase, Texas, officially takes its place on the map.

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