# Elon Musk Funds Senate GOP Rescue for Ken Paxton

> Elon Musk donated $190 million to boost Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign in Texas.
- Title: Elon Musk Funds Senate GOP Rescue for Ken Paxton · Salon
- Summary: Elon Musk donated $190 million to boost Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign in Texas. Elon Musk provided $190 million to Senate Republicans to rescue Ken Paxton’s…
- Keywords: elon musk, ken paxton, senate, texas, republicans, campaign donations, senate leadership fund, texas pac, news, politics, Elon, Musk
- Source: Salon — https://salon.com/2026/10/17/elon-musk-is-the-donor-behind-senate-republicans-massive-rescue-mission-for-ken-paxton-partner
- Author: Gabby Birenbaum
- Published: 2026-10-17T10:00:15+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: elon musk, ken paxton, senate, texas, republicans, campaign donations, senate leadership fund, texas pac, news, politics
## Senate Republicans launch rescue mission
Republicans dropped over $200 million to boost Ken Paxton in Texas Senate race.
## Elon Musk funds Senate race
Musk poured nearly $190 million into U.S. Senate race in Texas.
## Musk’s first donation
Musk gave $75 million to Senate Leadership Fund on Sept 9.
## Second donation from Musk
Musk gave $83 million to Senate Leadership Fund two weeks later.
## Texas PAC ad spending
SLF spent $159 million on TV, radio and digital ads.
## SLF’s role in campaign
SLF backed Sen. John Cornyn in primary and estimated $150-200 million needed for Paxton.
## Musk’s political involvement
Musk’s team reached out to Senate Leadership Fund to support Paxton.
## Lone Star Liberty PAC funding
Lone Star Liberty PAC received $10 million from Musk and raised $5 million.
## Lone Star Liberty PAC’s need
Lone Star Liberty PAC had only $35,000 by end of June.
## Talarico’s fundraising
Talarico raised $64 million in Q3, a record for Senate candidates.
## Paxton’s ad spending
Paxton’s group spent $17.5 million on TV ads in early September.
## Total ad spending
Over $217 million spent on ads by outside groups in Texas Senate race.
## Paxton’s tech focus
Paxton has investigated Musk’s X and other tech companies as attorney general.
## Criticism of Paxton
Critics accuse Paxton of ignoring Musk’s AI content issues.
## Musk’s ground game
Musk’s PAC spent $18.8 million on Republican ground operations.
## Musk’s business ties
Musk moved company incorporations to Texas and has Texas headquarters.
## Musk’s other donations
Musk donated $800,000 to five competitive U.S. House races.
## Key takeaway

Elon Musk provided $190 million to Senate Republicans to rescue Ken Paxton’s Senate race in Texas.