Elon Musk donates $10M to back Nate Morris in Kentucky GOP Senate primary

WASHINGTON, DC: Tech billionaire Elon Musk has made a $10 million contribution to a super PAC backing Kentucky Republican Senate candidate Nate Morris, according to sources familiar with the donation.

The contribution was made last week as the race intensifies to replace retiring Senator Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in US history.

The donation represents Musk’s largest financial backing of a federal candidate other than President Donald Trump. It comes amid a crowded GOP primary field and increased scrutiny of campaign fundraising ahead of the May contest.

Musk backs Morris in Kentucky GOP primary 

The $10 million contribution was directed to Fight for Kentucky, a super PAC supporting Morris, according to sources cited by Axios, which first reported the donation.

 As of its most recent Federal Election Commission filing on July 31, the PAC reported just under $50,000 in cash on hand, making Musk’s contribution a significant infusion of funds.

Morris, 45, is the founder of waste and recycling company Rubicon, which he later sold for $2 billion. He is competing against Rep. Andy Barr and former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron for the Republican nomination to succeed McConnell, who is retiring at the end of his term.

A source familiar with the donation said Musk recently spoke with Morris and “came away impressed with the candidate’s business background and anti-establishment, anti-Mitch McConnell message.” Morris has centered his campaign on criticism of McConnell, including in an early advertisement accusing the senator of having “trashed Trump” following the former president’s claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Morris has also labeled his rivals as “puppets” of the longtime Senate leader.

Barr, 52, reported raising more money than Morris over the last six months of 2025 and had more than $6.42 million in cash on hand as of Dec 31, according to figures previously reported. Morris, whose campaign has largely been self-funded, reported $1.5 million cash on hand. Barr’s campaign dismissed the impact of Morris’s increased spending.

“The more money Nate Morris spends, the more Kentuckians get to see him and the worse he does,” Barr campaign manager Blake Gober said. “Nate Morris spending money made this a two man race between Andy Barr and Daniel Cameron.”

Despite previously signaling a reduction in political spending, Musk has continued to fund Republican causes.

In May, he told attendees at the Qatar Economic Forum, “In terms of political spending, I’m going to do a lot less in the future.” Since then, he has contributed tens of millions of dollars to GOP-aligned PACs and has publicly warned on X that “America is toast if the radical left wins.” Trump has not endorsed a candidate in the Kentucky Republican primary.

Trump encourages Letlow challenge in Louisiana race

President Trump has also publicly encouraged, on Saturday, January 17, Rep Julia Letlow of Louisiana to challenge Senator Bill Cassidy in the state’s upcoming GOP Senate primary. Trump in a post on Truth Social, writing, “Should she decide to enter this Race, Julia Letlow has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JULIA, RUN!!!”

 Letlow responded by saying she was “honored to have President Trump’s endorsement and trust,” adding, “My mission is clear: to ensure the nation our children inherit is safer and stronger.”