# Musk’s Midterm Meddling

> Elon Musk dumps $366m to save GOP in midterms, risking his own reputation.
- Title: Musk’s Midterm Meddling · Salon | Shortify
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: elon musk, gop, midterms, campaign spending, tesla, space x, texas, senate, house elections, political corruption, news, politics
- Source: Salon — https://salon.com/2026/10/20/musks-midterm-meddling-reeks-of-desperation
- Author: Troy Farah
- Published: 2026-10-20T13:00:47+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: elon musk, gop, midterms, campaign spending, tesla, space x, texas, senate, house elections, political corruption, news, politics
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Elon Musk spent $366 million on GOP midterm campaigns, fearing Democratic gains could trigger corruption investigations.