Elon Musk cut two checks totaling $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund in September, and the money flowed straight into the Texas Senate race — giving Republicans the air war they needed to rescue Ken Paxton and setting off the usual panic from outlets that only cry foul when spending bypasses the institutional donor class.
Federal disclosure forms show Musk gave $75 million to SLF on September 9. The next day, SLF deposited $75 million into the newly created Texas PAC. Two weeks later, Musk gave another $83 million; SLF transferred $83 million to Texas PAC the following day. Salon, which framed the spending as a "massive rescue mission," reports that Texas PAC has spent over $159 million on advertising — double Talarico's outlay, per AdImpact.
All told, Musk has given roughly $366 million this cycle, making him the largest disclosed donor of either party, according to Slate. Since July alone, the figure is about $276 million, per federal filings reviewed by Europe Says.
Slate called it Musk "dominating the midterms." Salon warned of one "highly motivated donor" bankrolling the rescue. What neither outlet mentions: every dollar is disclosed, legally contributed, and publicly reported — the opposite of dark money. The Founders protected exactly this kind of private political participation. The establishment only objects when the checkbook doesn't belong to their preferred class.
The backstory is straightforward. Paxton, riding Trump's last-minute endorsement, beat Sen. John Cornyn in the primary. Senate Republicans then faced what Slate called a "conundrum": rescue Paxton at the cost of other races, or leave him hanging. A standoff between irritated Senate Republicans and Trump's super PAC over who should foot the bill lasted months.
Musk resolved it. Salon reports that Musk's political team reached out to SLF to voice concerns about Paxton's standing. That produced an initial deal: Musk would give $10 million to Lone Star Liberty PAC if SLF contributed $5 million and the PAC raised another $5 million. Lone Star Liberty had just $35,000 on hand after draining its coffers in the primary. Talarico, meanwhile, posted a record $64 million quarter between July and September.
Then came the big money. SLF executive director Alex Latcham told Bloomberg TV that thanks to "generous investors who have dedicated money to an affiliate, Texas PAC, we've been able to go in and support Ken Paxton" — spending nearly $200 million in Texas without subtracting resources from other states. Trump's MAGA Inc. chipped in another $30 million, per Slate.
Texas PAC hit the air with a positive spot on Paxton's sex-trafficking work and a negative ad attacking Talarico as being for "they/them, not you," according to Salon.
Musk has skin in the game beyond politics. He moved SpaceX headquarters from California to Texas in 2024, citing Gov. Gavin Newsom's gender identity policies. SpaceX is building a terafab semiconductor facility outside Houston. He lives near the Starbase facility in South Texas.
Last year, Musk told Bloomberg he had probably "done enough" political spending but left the door open: "Well, if I see a reason to do political spending in the future, I'll do it." He saw one. Republicans face headwinds from the Iran war, rising inflation, and sky-high gas prices, with polls showing voter dissatisfaction, per Europe Says.
The real question isn't why Musk is spending. It's why the same press that shrugs at billionaire donors who fund establishment candidates treats a man who bypasses them as a threat to democracy itself.
