By Rajwa Quasim
Elon Musk, a prominent supporter of President Donald Trump, has poured more than $276 million into Republican-aligned political groups since July, emerging as the party’s biggest financial backer ahead of the November midterm elections. The spending comes as Republicans seek to retain control of Congress.
The donations were made over the past few months as both parties prepare for what is expected to be a closely contested election. Democrats have a strong chance of regaining control of the House of Representatives, while Republicans are working to strengthen their House and Senate campaigns amid declining approval ratings for Trump and his administration.
In 2024, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX spent nearly $300 million supporting Trump’s presidential campaign. This election cycle, his contributions have grown further. Musk donated $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund and $20 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund over the summer. The political action committees play major roles in supporting Republican candidates in Senate and House races.
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Musk also directed millions of dollars to his own political organization, America PAC. The group has funded campaign advertising and voter outreach initiatives across the United States, including text messages and digital and print ads targeting Senate contests in Michigan, Alaska, Ohio, Texas and New Hampshire. It has also supported campaigns in at least 12 competitive House races.
Musk, a vocal Trump supporter, was appointed an informal adviser to the administration and co-led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in January 2025. He stepped down in May 2025 following disagreements with Trump over a major congressional spending bill and the end of his 130-day statutory limit on unpaid government service.
In October 2026, reports said Musk had returned to work with the administration to co-lead “Project Meridian,” a Pentagon study focused on the future of warfare.
Musk’s donations have strengthened Republicans’ financial position ahead of the election. By the end of August, Republican Party committees and Trump-linked MAGA Inc. had raised more than $1.1 billion combined, compared with about $600 million raised by Democrats, according to federal campaign finance filings cited by the Financial Times.
“If Democrats take control of Washington and win key gubernatorial and attorney-general races this November, then America risks becoming a socialist, woke and borderless country,” Andrew Romeo, a spokesman for America PAC, said.
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“These robust investments have allowed the GOP apparatus to get its message out so Republicans can have a fighting chance to defy history,” Romeo added.
Despite a reported breakdown in Musk’s relationship with Trump in June 2025, the two appear to have rebuilt their relationship. Trump awarded Musk the National Medal of Science last week. Musk was also among several major technology executives who attended a recent White House meeting with Trump, where the president signed an executive order directing federal agencies to replace the term “artificial intelligence” with “superintelligence” in official communications. Following the event, Musk said SpaceX’s artificial intelligence subsidiary, SpaceXAI, would be renamed SpaceXSI.
SpaceX recently announced plans to acquire wireless spectrum licenses, a deal that requires approval from the Federal Communications Commission. The transaction adds to the significance of the company’s relationship with the federal government, given its regulatory responsibilities and the company’s business interests.