Politics1 min read

Elon Musk’s nearly half a billion dollars in midterms spending was a flop

By · Via The Guardian Business · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Musk distributed hundreds of millions of dollars across conservative groups, including $168 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, but saw his preferred candidates fail in critical targeted regions. Democratic contenders secured victories in every one of the five premier Senate races targeted by America PAC, including contests in Texas, Michigan, Maine, Ohio, and Iowa. The sweeping defeat in Texas directly impacts Musk's business headquarters, where Republicans lost the governorship and expected control of the state legislature. Now, incoming state and federal lawmakers are preparing to subject his enterprises to targeted probes and heightened regulatory scrutiny.

Key points

  • The election swept Democrats into power in Texas, threatening Musk's business empire with…: The election swept Democrats into power in Texas, threatening Musk's business empire with potential data center moratoriums and leadership scrutiny.
  • Incoming federal lawmakers have committed to launching targeted investigations into Musk'…: Incoming federal lawmakers have committed to launching targeted investigations into Musk's previous government efficiency role and federal contracts.
  • Heavy campaign spending failed to preserve friendly regulatory conditions for Musk's comp…: Heavy campaign spending failed to preserve friendly regulatory conditions for Musk's companies across both state and federal jurisdictions.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Elon Musk set a record for election spending this year after pouring nearly half a billion dollars into backing Republicans in the US midterm elections. It turned out to be a poor investment.

The SpaceX and Tesla CEO contributed at least $446m to Republican-aligned Super Pacs and groups over the course of the elections, specifically targeting several key Senate races in an effort to help the Trump administration retain Republican control of Congress. He outdid his own 2024 spending of nearly $290m. Yet as Democrats swept to power across the country on Tuesday night, it became clear that Musk would get nearly nothing in return for his hundreds of millions in spending.

Democrats won every one of the five Senate races where Musk’s America Pac spent the most money backing Republican candidates. In Texas, where Musk’s empire is based and where he directed most of his political efforts, Republicans lost the Senate race, governor’s office and are expected to relinquish control of the state house.

After months of Musk posting attacks on Democrats and amplifying election conspiracy theories on X,…

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