Elon Musk Donates $276 Million to Boost Republicans in US Midterm Elections
Elon Musk has donated more than $276 million to Republican-aligned political groups since July, including $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund. His spending comes as Republicans face voter discontent and a difficult midterm election battle.
The figures were first reported by The New York Times ahead of this week's federal filing deadline and were confirmed by Andrew Romeo, a spokesperson for Musk's super PAC.
The contributions include $158 million donated to the Senate Leadership Fund, the main super PAC supporting Republican Senate candidates. According to The New York Times, the contribution ranks among the largest known political donations in American history.
Another million went to America PAC, Musk's super PAC, which has once again established a major voter turnout operation similar to the one it deployed to help elect President Donald Trump by knocking on doors in 2024.
Musk also contributed million to Lone Star Liberty PAC, a group supporting Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton in Texas. The race has become a major focus of Musk's political spending efforts.
The scale of Musk's latest contributions marks a dramatic reversal from last May, when he said he intended to reduce his political spending in the future. "I think I've done enough," he said at the time.
Despite the fresh cash infusion, Musk has generally maintained a lower public profile than he did in 2024, when he appeared alongside Trump on stage at rallies. He was also highly visible during the early days of the president's second term, when he led the Department of Government Efficiency.
Musk and Trump had a falling-out as Musk left his government position, but the two have since reconciled. Last week, Trump presented Musk with the National Medal of Science.
Musk's net worth has fluctuated around the trillion-dollar threshold this year as stock prices changed. However, he crossed the $1 trillion mark again last week, according to Forbes magazine.
Republicans have a substantial financial advantage over their Democratic counterparts, providing a rare bright spot for a party preparing for potentially significant losses. The party is facing deep voter frustration over the president's performance, persistently high prices and the unpopular war with Iran.
Republicans have been using the money to blanket the airwaves during the final stretch of the election campaign.
"These robust investments have allowed the G.O.P. apparatus to get its message out so Republicans can have a fighting chance to defy history," Romeo told The New York Times.
Democrats responded to the revelations by accusing Republicans of relying on enormous financial resources to conceal their political weaknesses.
"Republicans are hoping to buy these elections, injecting tens of millions into races to try and outrun their unpopular candidates, unpopular president, and unpopular economy," said Lauren French, a spokesperson for Democrats' Senate Majority PAC.
Musk's contributions of more than $276 million since July underscore the scale of his financial involvement in the midterm elections, as Republicans seek to defend their congressional majorities against mounting political challenges.

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