Elon Musk gives $158M to Senate Republicans as funds quickly flow to PAC backing Ken Paxton
WASHINGTON, DC: Elon Musk donated $158 million in September to the Senate Leadership Fund, the main super PAC supporting Senate Republicans, with the group transferring matching amounts to a political action committee backing Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
This came as Paxton faces Democratic challenger James Talarico in a closely contested Texas Senate race in the upcoming November midterm elections. The contest has drawn significant national Republican spending as the party seeks to retain control of the Lone Star State.
Elon Musk’s $158 million donation quickly reaches Texas PAC
According to FEC filings reported on Thursday, October 15, Musk contributed $75 million to the Senate Leadership Fund on September 9 and another $83 million on September 23. Together, the contributions accounted for more than half of the super PAC’s receipts during the third quarter.
The group then transferred the same amounts to Texas PAC one day after each donation. Texas PAC has reported more than $100 million in spending supporting Paxton and opposing Talarico, according to campaign finance reports.
The Tesla CEO also contributed more than $80 million to his own super PAC, America PAC, between July and September. The organisation reported spending on the Texas Senate contest and other competitive congressional races.
The contributions mark Musk’s renewed involvement in large-scale political spending after he spent more than $250 million backing President Donald Trump and other Republicans during the 2024 election cycle. Musk’s political activity had drawn attention following his brief period leading the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and a subsequent public dispute with the president.
Musk, a Texas resident whose companies SpaceX and Tesla have major operations in the state, has also criticised Talarico in recent weeks.
Trump attacks John Cornyn and Karl Rove as Ken Paxton faces tight race
Trump has also been publicly urging Republicans to unite behind Paxton. In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, the president blamed Republican strategist Karl Rove and Senator John Cornyn, whom Paxton defeated in the Republican primary, for undermining the party’s chances in the general election.
“They are hurting Texas and, more importantly, hurting the United States of America!” the 80-year-old wrote. “If Ken Paxton loses, it will be because of weak and ineffective Political Hacks like John Cornyn and Karl Rove, who have ineffectively opposed me for my entire political career.”
Sadly, and very stupidly, John Cornyn, and his Liddle’ Buddy, Super RINO, Karl Rove, are doing everything possible to make it hard for Ken Paxton, the Greatest Attorney General in the History of Texas, and one of the Best in the United States, to win the upcoming Midterm Election against a Radical Left Lunatic, James TalaFREAKO, who is the ANTITHESIS of Texas Values. John Cornyn who, after my Endorsement, lost the Primary to Ken by a very wide margin, and Karl Rove, who shouldn’t be allowed to spew his jealousy on FoxNews, should be ashamed of themselves. They are hurting Texas and, more importantly, hurting the United States of America! If Ken Paxton loses, it will be because of WEAK and INEFFECTIVE Political Hacks like John Cornyn and Karl Rove, who have ineffectively opposed me for my entire political career. As your ALL TIME WINNER in the History of Texas, “Trump won 96% of the Counties in Texas, 242 of 254. Harris won only 12 counties (FoxNews),” and by MILLIONS of Popular Votes, the Highest in the History of Texas, your favorite President (ME!) is asking all of those who supported Senator John Cornyn to UNITE, and immediately switch your support to Ken Paxton. He will be a Great Senator, just like he is a Great Attorney General. We cannot take a chance on having a FREAKO, sometimes referred to as James TalaFREAKO, as our man in Washington, D.C., representing the magnificent people of the Great State of Texas! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP ( TS: Oct 15 2026, 4:27 PM ET )
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) October 15, 2026
Trump also called on Cornyn’s supporters to back Paxton, writing, “Your favorite President (ME!) is asking all of those who supported Senator John Cornyn to unite, and immediately switch your support to Ken Paxton.”
Recent polling has shown Talarico with a within-the-margin-of-error lead, even though Democrats have not won a statewide election in Texas since 1994, which means that if Paxton loses the seat, it could deal a serious blow to Republicans' efforts to hold on to the Senate.
Trump also used his MAGA Inc super PAC to donate $10 million to Paxton's campaign in September, the most he has spent on any race this year. He also travelled to Texas thrice in less than a month to campaign for Paxton.
