Gina Hinojosa struck a more conciliatory tone toward Elon Musk after opposing a proposed SpaceX land deal, saying she can work with his companies if they operate on Texans’ terms. Gina Hinojosa’s comments leave the possible Boca Chica land transaction unsettled as she prepares to take office.
In an interview with CNN on Thursday, two days after election night, Hinojosa said, “We can have a strong working relationship with Elon Musk and his companies.” She added that the relationship “has to be on our terms” and cannot involve “running over the people of Texas.” Her remarks followed campaign criticism of the SpaceX land deal near SpaceX’s Starbase.
The disagreement places a public land decision alongside questions about how Texas will work with a major company operating in the state. Hinojosa did not rule out the SpaceX land deal at her first post-election press conference. She said she had asked that a decision be stayed at least until she takes office.
Hinojosa Sets Terms for SpaceX Land Deal
Hinojosa’s position has shifted in emphasis since her campaign. In an October press release, she said, “As Governor, I’ll protect our land and our livelihoods, not sell out to the highest bidder, because Texans deserve a leader who puts the people first.” After winning the election, she described a possible working relationship with Musk’s companies, while insisting it would be governed by her terms.
Her land concerns center on Boca Chica State Park, a coastal reserve spanning 1,000 acres at Texas’ southernmost point. SpaceX’s Starbase, one of the company’s rocket launch sites, is nearby. The source describes a land sale to Musk as an issue that has been under discussion for some time.
A Cameron County Commission agenda notice from 2024 raised a land swap proposed by SpaceX. Under that proposal, Texas would give the company 43 acres at Boca Chica in exchange for 477 acres nearby, allowing SpaceX to expand its launch facilities. That proposal is distinct from a smaller transaction considered later.
Separate Proposals Leave the Land Question Open
In August 2025, the commission approved a separate proposal authorizing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to sell SpaceX four noncontiguous tracts totaling about 1.9 acres. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission later voted to approve that smaller deal. Its agenda records authorized the executive director to take necessary steps to dispose of the tracts.
At her first press conference after the election, Hinojosa said she had spoken with the department’s executive director. She said she confirmed the issue was not on that day’s agenda and requested that no action be taken during the transition. The source does not report a final decision on either proposal.
Hinojosa also criticized outgoing Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for considering the smaller deal. She said he was handing over public land to the world’s only trillionaire and wrote, “Texas is not for sale.” Her transition team did not respond to Fox News Digital questions about whether her outlook had changed or what might prevent Musk from securing the 1.9 acres.
Musk responded on social media by pointing to Texas’ business policies. “SpaceX and Tesla have prospered in Texas, because we were not constantly operating under an oppressive and extractive state government,” he wrote. He also said the companies moved major domestic expansions and headquarters to Texas as California became more difficult because of taxes and regulation. Those comments were Musk’s explanation for the companies’ decisions.
The debate echoes other coverage of how public policy affects business, including a Senate review of small-business rules, a report on San Antonio’s small-business economy, and a story about a startup’s product launch.
Hinojosa is scheduled to take the oath of office on Jan. 19, 2027. The requested pause and the status of the land proposals leave the next decision with state officials after the transition.
Fox News Digital’s report on Hinojosa’s remarks describes the proposals and the exchange with Musk.