SpaceX Employees Cast Votes for “Starbase” in Elon Musk’s Company Town

Residents of a small area in southern Texas will cast their votes this Saturday to establish a town for Elon Musk. This election will officially create Starbase, situated where SpaceX is set to launch the Texas Rocket.

The locals, formerly known as Bocachica, will decide to transform an unorganized neighborhood into a town with the power to enact city ordinances. The outcomes will likely be influenced heavily by SpaceX employees and their families, who represent a significant portion of the community.

The establishment of Starbase places Musk in a unique position to lead what could be viewed as a company town, reminiscent of industrial magnates from a bygone era. This will represent a minor triumph for one of the world’s wealthiest individuals as he steps beyond his unofficial role in the “Ministry of Government Efficiency.”

Although Musk isn’t officially in charge of Starbase, the city is heavily centered around SpaceX and its employees. As of 2025, Starbase has a population of just over 500, with 260 being SpaceX employees and the remainder mainly their families. As reported by Bloomberg.

Bobby Peden, 36, a proposed mayoral candidate, has been with SpaceX since 2013 and serves as the vice president of Texas testing and launch operations. Along with two other candidates, who are also SpaceX employees, he faces no opposition in the race.

Situated near the Mexican border by a small bay feeding into the Gulf of Mexico, Starbase features prefabricated homes, aircraft carriers, and palm trees lining the streets. A nine-foot golden bust of Musk stands outside, emblazoned with the phrase “Elon aka Memelord.”

Last month, the statue was vandalized, with layers of foam and fiberglass being peeled from its cheeks. An employee-exclusive eatery named Astropub features a neon sign reading “Occupation Mars.” One of the main roads is called “Memes Street.”

While the creation of Starbase could be viewed as a vanity project for Musk, it brings with it logistical advantages that have been acknowledged by the company. Workers reiterated this at a legislative hearing in April, indicating that establishing the town would facilitate better logistics and coordination during events like test launches. As reported by the Associated Press.

Opposition to Starbase

While the incorporation of Starbase seems imminent, it faces protests from local activists, particularly regarding voter eligibility in the election. The South Texas Environmental Justice Network has organized demonstrations and is urging community members to contact state representatives to oppose the incorporation. The group asserts that with the establishment of Starbase, SpaceX could gain access to public beaches in the town, restricting others’ access to public land.

“Boca Chica Beach belongs to the people, not to Elon Musk,” the organization lamented on its site. “For generations, residents have frequented Boca Chica Beach for fishing, swimming, recreation, and for the spiritual connection of the Karizo/Comecrudo tribes to the beach.

Over the years, Musk has made bold claims about the future of Starbase, encouraging employees to settle in the area. “Starbase will grow by several thousand in the next year or two,” he tweeted back in 2021.

As Tesla’s performance has plateaued, SpaceX has become an increasingly vital element of Musk’s business empire, with governments awarding the company billions in contracts related to space exploration.

In recent years, Musk has relocated many of his primary residences and businesses to Texas. He resides in a vast $35 million compound in Austin, which includes three separate mansions. During last year’s campaign to reelect Trump, he temporarily moved to Pennsylvania’s swing state.

Musk also spent time in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building while advising Trump, but returned to his company’s oversight in late April after leaving the White House.