Musk Pours $76 Million Into Midterms Push
America PAC injected over $76 million into the final two weeks of the election cycle, with a massive portion directed at the Texas Senate race.
By Marcus Johnson ·
Elon Musk significantly ramped up financial support for the Republican party this week, funneling more than $76 million into his personal political committee, America PAC. The funds were injected during the first two weeks of October, aiming to influence the outcome of the midterm elections as the calendar year ends. This latest disbursement was disclosed in a pre-election report filed with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday evening.
The group deployed nearly $43 million of that capital in the same period. As the campaign enters its final stretch, the committee retains nearly $47 million in liquid cash. The spending pattern indicates an aggressive final push, with the bulk of the resources allocated to high-profile Senate races and digital advertising efforts.
The Texas Senate contest absorbed the largest share of the new money. The race received $15.2 million in the last fortnight, a figure that doubles the total amount the PAC spent in that state throughout the summer. Of this total, $12.4 million was earmarked for advertisements attacking Democratic candidate James Talarico. An additional $2.8 million was used to promote Republican contender Ken Paxton.
Subsequent daily filings reveal that the assault on Talarico has continued. An extra $9.1 million has been spent against him since the initial report. This brings the total cycle spending against the Democrat to nearly $28 million. That figure represents approximately 40 percent of all funds the PAC has spent supporting or opposing candidates. The group also pivoted toward digital platforms, spending $11.4 million on online ads. This amount rivals the combined expenditure on mail and texting services.
Musk’s total contributions to Republican political organizations this election cycle now exceed $445 million. According to an analysis of FEC filings, this makes him the largest known individual donor in the midterms. The pace of giving has accelerated recently, with more than $165 million directed to America PAC since July. The committee declined to provide further comment on the new numbers.
The billionaire has also used his social media presence to weigh in on the Texas race. On Wednesday, he posted on X that there is something deeply wrong with Talarico. He further labeled the candidate a creep and claimed, without providing evidence, that Talarico would vote to take away voters' kids and transition them. Earlier in the month, Musk amplified a false claim that Talarico had been treated at a mental health facility.
Talarico responded to the attack the same day, stating that there is something deeply wrong with a political system that allows one trillionaire to buy his own personal US Senator. The Texas race remains statistically close. An Emerson College poll of 1,000 likely Texas voters, conducted from October 17 to 19, found Talarico at 48 percent and Paxton at 46 percent. The margin of error for that poll is three points.
Beyond Texas, the election outcomes carry significant implications for Musk’s business empire. If Democrats secure the House, committee leaders have indicated they will investigate his role in the Department of Government Efficiency. They also plan to review federal contracts awarded to his companies and what California Democrat Zoe Lofgren described as an astounding number of conflicts of interest. Full Democratic control of Congress would present even greater challenges for his business interests.
Silicon Valley Democrats expanded their targets on Friday by focusing on SpaceX. Representatives Sam Liccardo, Jimmy Panetta, and Ro Khanna sent a letter to the White House demanding an investigation into the Starshield satellite service in Ukraine. The lawmakers vowed that the next Congress will closely scrutinize federal funding awarded to Mr. Musk's businesses if the opposition party gains power.
The next step in the process involves the final days of campaigning before voters head to the polls on Tuesday. The massive influx of cash and attention will likely keep the Texas race in the national spotlight. Meanwhile, congressional leaders on both sides prepare their legislative agendas based on the anticipated shift in power.
Source: Wired
