Elon Musk is expected to spend between $100 million and $200 million to support Republican candidates in the November 2026 midterm elections, according to Trump administration officials briefed on the plans.
The spending estimate could change, but officials say Musk’s political operation is expected to focus on voter turnout in competitive races, including Texas. The state’s Senate contest could help determine which party controls the chamber, with Republican candidate Ken Paxton facing Democrat James Talarico.
A major cash infusion or in-kind donations tied to voter mobilization would benefit Paxton, who trails Talarico significantly in fundraising. According to the latest Federal Election Commission filings, Talarico has raised approximately $69 million, compared with about $9 million for Paxton.
President Donald Trump’s endorsement helped Paxton secure the Republican nomination, but the candidate has struggled to build financial momentum since entering the race. He also lagged in fundraising during a difficult primary challenge against Sen. John Cornyn, when past scandals resurfaced.
Neither of the Republican Party’s leading national outside groups has publicly committed to spending on Paxton’s behalf. The Senate Leadership Fund, which is backed by allies of Senate Majority Leader John Thune, supported Cornyn during the primary. MAGA Inc. has not yet disclosed its plans for the Texas Senate race.
Paxton is not the only Republican candidate facing a fundraising disadvantage. Democrats in several competitive races are generally outraising their Republican opponents this election cycle, leaving many GOP campaigns dependent on national party committees and outside groups to close the gap.
Musk’s expected contribution would add to the Republican National Committee’s $128 million war chest, while the Democratic National Committee is reportedly $2 million in debt. Two leading Republican super PACs have $380 million available for House and Senate races, compared with $116 million for Democratic groups. MAGA Inc. has approximately $400 million in cash on hand, with no direct Democratic equivalent currently in place.
A spokesperson for America PAC declined to comment on the organization’s 2026 spending plans. The New York Times previously reported that Musk had authorized the PAC to spend at least $100 million during the 2026 midterm elections.
However, Musk’s record of organizing get-out-the-vote operations remains mixed.
During the 2024 presidential election, the Trump campaign outsourced its field operation to America PAC and paid a third-party recruitment company. The effort spent more than $46 million across several battleground states to mobilize “low-propensity” voters—people who support Trump but do not regularly vote.
Trump ultimately won all six battleground states, but campaign officials questioned how much of that success could be attributed to America PAC’s partnership with paid canvassers. Some officials argued that Trump’s celebrity status and ability to energize supporters played a larger role. Critics also said paid recruiters were less committed than in-house campaign staff and, in some cases, falsely claimed to have knocked on voters’ doors.
The 2024 America PAC operation also drew complaints from workers who said they were defrauded or threatened with having to cover their own lodging expenses if they failed to meet demanding quotas. America PAC and Musk did not respond to requests for comment at the time.
This is an edition of Hugo Lowell’s Innerloop newsletter. Read previous newsletters here.
Source: www.wired.com