From Salon · Troy Farah · · 1m 20s
Musk’s Midterm Meddling
Elon Musk dumps $366m to save GOP in midterms, risking his own reputation.
In brief
Elon Musk dumps $366m to save GOP in midterms, risking his own reputation. Elon Musk spent $366 million on GOP midterm campaigns, fearing Democratic gains could trigger corruption investigations. Originally reported by Salon.
Musk and Trump’s relationship
Elon Musk and Donald Trump had a strained relationship that fluctuated based on who controlled financial resources.
“The two men have a storied on-off relationship that seems to fluctuate based on who’s grabbing the check.”
Musk’s National Medal of Science
Musk received the National Medal of Science from President Trump on October 8, 2026, an honor Musk called an empty gesture.
“I was probably reading too much into it, but I sensed some awareness on Musk’s part that it was an empty gesture, unless inflating stock prices is a scientific achievement.”
Musk’s campaign spending
Musk spent $366 million on GOP midterm TV spots and other campaign efforts, with $276 million donated since July 2026.
“Axios reported he is "single-handedly keeping the Republican Party afloat in some of its most vital races."”
Musk’s Texas Senate race
Musk donated to Texas GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign against state Rep. James Talarico.
“Musk’s money went to his own super PAC, but a good chunk also to the Senate Leadership Fund and the Lone Star Liberty PAC.”
Texas election dynamics
Texas Senate races are extremely tight, with Democrats tied in key races against Republican candidates.
“New data from the University of Texas/Texas Politics Project shows Democrats are statistically tied in key races.”
Musk’s Wisconsin Supreme Court race
Musk spent $18 million in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race to influence redistricting, but it didn’t yield the desired outcome.
“In 2025, Musk dumped more than $18 million into a Wisconsin Supreme Court race, hoping to suborn the state’s redistricting efforts.”
Musk’s legal settlements
Musk settled a class action lawsuit over false claims of $1 million random wins in the 2024 presidential election.
“Last Thursday, Musk settled a class action lawsuit alleging that his PAC had engaged in fraud in the 2024 presidential election by falsely telling voters they had a chance to randomly win $1 million.”
Public opinion on corruption
60% of Americans are extremely concerned about corruption, with Trump seen as using the presidency to enrich himself.
“A recent Fox News poll indicates that corruption is the top concern among both Democratic and Republican voters, with 60% extremely concerned.”
What it means
Elon Musk spent $366 million on GOP midterm campaigns, fearing Democratic gains could trigger corruption investigations.
