Following her election victory, Texas Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa is moderating her stance on billionaire Elon Musk, suggesting a readiness to collaborate with his companies despite her previous campaign criticisms.
The Democrat, who won against Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the recent midterms, is now expressing that fostering a cooperative relationship with Musk may be essential for the state’s economic future.
During a recent CNN interview, Hinojosa indicated her administration’s potential for a constructive partnership with Musk, emphasizing that they can work together.
“We can have a strong working relationship with Elon Musk and his companies,” she stated.
However, she clarified that any future partnerships would need to be balanced and respectful of Texas residents.
“It has to be on our terms. It cannot be just running over the people of Texas, and that’s what changes now that I will be governor,” she insisted.
This shift reflects a significant change from Hinojosa’s earlier harsh critiques during her campaign against Musk and Abbott.
Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa: “We can have a strong working relationship with Elon Musk and his companies, but it has to be on our terms”
Jake Tapper asked her about blocking the sale of a Texas state park to SpaceX, and whether Musk might leave the state over it. Her answer:
“Well, look, as I said before, we have to have balance. These are our beaches we’re talking about. I mean, selling our beach to Elon Musk is just something that is almost unimaginable. It’s unacceptable. Our beaches are enshrined in our Texas Constitution as being free and open to the people of Texas because they are our beaches.”
“We can have a strong working relationship with Elon Musk and his companies, but it has to be on our terms. It cannot be just running over the people of Texas. And that’s what changes now that I will be governor.”
— Fireside Alpha (@firesidealpha) November 6, 2026
Previously, she accused the outgoing Republican leadership of prioritizing corporate interests over the needs of ordinary Texans.
“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,” she had remarked in her campaign.
The crux of the controversy stems from Boca Chica State Park, adjacent to SpaceX’s Starbase rocket launch site, where SpaceX has sought arrangements for state-owned property.
Concerns have arisen among residents and environmental groups about public accessibility and conservation issues related to these agreements.
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A proposal under consideration for 2024 suggested trading 43 acres of parkland for around 477 acres of adjacent land.
In August 2025, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved a different proposal, involving four parcels totaling approximately 1.9 acres.
This commission allowed state officials to proceed with the smaller agreement, though the larger debate over SpaceX’s expansion remains prevalent.
Hinojosa made this issue a focal point of her campaign against Abbott, alleging that the Republican governor favored Musk over Texans.
“After 12 years of selling out Texas to his corporate donors and making working people foot the bill, Greg Abbott is handing over our land to the world’s only trillionaire. Let me be clear: Texas is not for sale,” she stated emphatically.
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She framed her campaign as a broader struggle against corporate dominance in governance.
“This is the One Fight that unites us all: Are we going to be a Texas by and for the people, or is this the billionaires’ world and the rest of us just live here?” she questioned.
Yet, after attaining the governorship, Hinojosa has not dismissed the possibility of future agreements with SpaceX.
She has instead requested a delay on the proposed land deal until her administration is fully up and running.
“This morning I was pleased to talk to the executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife to confirm that this issue was not on today’s agenda and to request that no action be taken out of respect for this transition,” she noted on Thursday.
Musk has responded to the potential for stricter regulations in Texas, emphasizing the state’s historical openness to business.
In a post on X, he praised Texas’s reputation for attracting significant private investments.
“SpaceX and Tesla have prospered in Texas, because we were not constantly operating under an oppressive and extractive state government,” Musk commented.
“As California became increasingly difficult, due to extreme taxes and overregulation, we moved our major domestic expansions and HQ to Texas,” he added.
Texas has emerged as a vital hub for Musk’s business ventures, with Tesla’s large facility in Austin and SpaceX’s operations near Boca Chica.
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These developments have created a complex situation for Hinojosa as she balances her campaign commitments with the economic implications of major employers.
Her transition team did not respond to inquiries regarding any shifts in her stance on the proposed land sale.
While Hinojosa has not announced any approval of the deal, her request for a delay remains in effect.
However, her newfound openness to dialogue with Musk indicates a significant pivot from her earlier confrontational messaging.
Hinojosa is due to take office on January 19, 2027, inheriting the ongoing discussions regarding SpaceX’s expansion and the evolving relationship between Texas and one of its most significant investors.
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