Texas Democratic candidate for governor sues to review emails between Elon Musk and Greg Abbott

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa filed her lawsuit just two weeks before Election Day.John Oliva / USA Today via ReutersShareAdd NBC News to GoogleOct. 19, 2026, 5:30 PM EDTBy Joe KottkeTexas state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for governor, announced a lawsuit Monday against Gov. Greg Abbott over emails between his office and Republican ally Elon Musk.

Hinojosa — who is challenging Abbott in a tight contest — said at a news conference that she filed the suit to obtain redacted documents that “Abbott refused to release,” claiming they were being withheld because they are “intimate and embarrassing.”

A spokesperson for Abbott called the lawsuit “baseless” and “nothing more than an act of desperation.”

“Even worse, State Representative Gina Hinojosa is abusing her official capacity as an outgoing lawmaker to generate headlines for political purposes,” Abbott’s press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, said in a statement. “Texans see this for what it is: a political stunt.”

Musk, who is CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hinojosa’s lawsuit alleges the “documented connections between Abbott and Musk are extensive,” including “personal interactions, joint public appearances, large political contributions, economic-development incentives, and public praise for one another.”

She claims that Abbott and Musk speak “frequently” and that Musk has “contributed approximately $366 million to Republicans and Republican-supported PACs,” including “large amounts, directly and indirectly, to help Abbott.” It also details the millions of grant dollars given to SpaceX for its operations in Texas, Musk’s home state.

Musk in recent months has donated about $250 million to Republican groups, much of it finding its way into Texas races.

Hinojosa filed a public information request last month for inspection of all documents exchanged between Abbott’s office and Musk and his companies.

In a Sept. 29 letter addressed to the governor’s office, she said the people of Texas are “concerned over the growing power of tech giants in Texas regarding our tax dollars, resources, and data.”

Abbott’s office responded to Hinojosa’s request for the records last Tuesday but “refused to release the unredacted versions,” according to court documents.

“Quite simply, Governor Abbott has failed and refused to comply with the law by allowing Representative Hinojosa access to the Abbott-Musk communications,” the lawsuit reads.

Hinojosa’s attorney, Cris Feldman, said the governor’s office “has continued to obstruct her ability to review these intimate and embarrassing emails, despite clear statutory language.”

In an affidavit, Hinojosa said she seeks the records for “legislative purposes.”

She said at the news conference, “The people have a right to know, and I, as their representative, have a right to see them.”

Early voting began in Texas on Monday. Hinojosa said she has already cast her ballot.

ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJoe KottkeJoe Kottke is an assignment editor at NBC News covering breaking news across the Americas, including politics, immigration, crime and severe weather.