Wired reports Musk expected to spend $100–200 million on Texas midterms
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Wired reports Elon Musk is expected to spend $100 million to $200 million to support Republicans in the November midterms, according to Trump officials briefed on the matter. The money would focus on voter turnout in key races including Texas, where Republican nominee Ken Paxton has raised $9 million versus Democrat James Talarico's $69 million. The New York Times earlier reported Musk authorized his PAC to spend at least $100 million, though Trump officials questioned the effectiveness of America PAC's 2024 turnout operation.
Key Facts
- Elon Musk is expected to spend $100 million to $200 million to boost Republican voter turnout in the 2026 midterms, according to Trump officials.
- Texas Republican nominee Ken Paxton has raised about $9 million, compared to Democrat James Talarico's roughly $69 million, according to FEC filings.
- The Republican National Committee has a $128 million war chest, while the Democratic National Committee is $2 million in debt.
- MAGA Inc has about $400 million on hand, with no Democratic equivalent.
- In 2024, America PAC paid third-party canvassing firms more than $46 million across battleground states for low-propensity voter turnout.
Musk's Planned Spending
Elon Musk is expected to spend $100 million to $200 million to support Republicans in the 2026 midterms, according to Trump officials briefed on the matter. The precise amount is not fixed, but officials expect the money to focus on voter turnout in key races, including Texas. Texas Republican nominee Ken Paxton has raised about $9 million, compared to Democrat James Talarico's roughly $69 million, according to the latest FEC filings. Neither the Senate Leadership Fund nor MAGA Inc has committed to spend on Paxton. Musk's projected spend would add to the Republican National Committee's $128 million war chest, while the Democratic National Committee is $2 million in debt.
Party Finances
The two main GOP super PACs for House and Senate races have $380 million, compared to Democrats' $116 million. MAGA Inc has about $400 million on hand; there is no Democratic equivalent. A spokesperson for America PAC declined to comment on the group's spending plans.
America PAC's 2024 Record
In the 2024 election, the Trump campaign outsourced its field operations to America PAC, which paid third-party canvassing firms more than $46 million across several battleground states. The operation aimed to turn out low-propensity voters who like Trump but don't always vote. Trump swept all six battleground states, but Trump officials were unconvinced America PAC's paid canvassers drove the result, citing Trump's celebrity appeal and base turnout. The 2024 America PAC operation also faced worker complaints that they had been tricked and threatened with lodging costs unless they hit quotas.
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Wired reports Musk expected to spend $100–200 million on Texas midterms
