Florida offers Tesla a new home: Republican tells Musk to move HQ as Democrats take Texas governor's office

Gimenez makes his pitch

Rep. Carlos Gimenez, a Florida Republican, invited Elon Musk to relocate Tesla’s headquarters to the Sunshine State. The congressman pointed to Florida’s business environment and described the state as a gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean.

In a message to Musk, Gimenez also cited Florida’s infrastructure and diverse, skilled workforce. He said companies should not face political retaliation for creating jobs or investing in innovation.

Hinojosa’s incoming agenda

Texas governor-elect Gina Hinojosa campaigned against unchecked data center expansion. She also won a court order allowing her to review unredacted emails between Musk and her predecessor. Hinojosa has opposed selling Boca Chica State Park to Musk’s SpaceX, which operates a nearby Starbase facility. She asked the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to pause any sale until she takes office.

Musk’s Texas and political ties

Musk moved Tesla from California to Texas in 2021, then relocated SpaceX and X in 2024. The article links those moves to his search for a more politically sympathetic environment after his views shifted to the right during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Musk donated $5 million to support Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s reelection campaign. The article says that was part of $500 million he spent backing Republican candidates at the midterms, when Democrats won control of the House and Senate.

Election results and reaction

The election outcome was widely viewed as a rebuke to President Donald Trump, with whom Musk has been closely associated. Musk served in Trump’s administration as the “mastermind” behind DOGE, a short-lived agency focused on cutting federal spending and jobs.

Gimenez’s invitation comes amid the anticipated clashes between Hinojosa and Musk. The article does not report whether Musk responded to the proposal.