Elon Musk ‘biggest single donor’ with $276 million in Republican support in US midterms: Who gets what? | Today’s news
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has reportedly donated $276 million to organizations supporting the campaigns of Republican candidates ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, US media reported Monday.
That likely made Musk the largest single donor for the Nov. 3 election, the New York Times reported.
Musk spent a total of $366 million this election cycle, according to the report. Since July, $276 million has been provided.
Who raised the most funds?
The biggest recipient of funds was the Senate Republican Leadership Fund, which received $158 million to maintain the party’s control of the upper chamber of Congress despite a narrow margin.
Here is a the breakdown of Musk’s political spendingas confirmed by a spokesperson for his super PAC America PAC, as reported by Reuters:
• Musk has spent $366 million so far in this election cycle, which began on January 1, 2025.
• Since July, at least $276 million has gone to Republican groups and his own super PAC. Of the $276 million in donations in the third quarter:
• $158 million went to the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC set up to help elect Senate Republicans that is associated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota.
• $20 million went to the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC set up for House Republicans that is tied to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana.
• $76 million went to Musk’s America PAC.
• $10 million went to Lone Star Liberty PAC, which is backing Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton’s bid for the US Senate in Texas, where he is up against Democrat James Talarico, according to recent polls.
• $10 million went to the Republican Governors Association.
• $2 million was allocated to the Republican Association of Attorneys General.
• America PAC is helping Republican candidates in seven battleground states and nearly three dozen House races.
• New giving will be made public when many super PACs are required to disclose their third-quarter spending on Thursday.
• Musk also donated more money through groups that do not disclose their donors, according to a New York Times report.
• About $90 million spent this cycle was paid for work done in previous elections or supported other causes, including an unsuccessful candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court and a controversial program to pay $1 million to registered voters who signed petitions supporting free speech and gun rights, an America PAC spokesman said.
• Musk spent roughly $290 million during the last election cycle, in which Trump won the presidential election against former Vice President Kamala Harris.
The stakes are high for Musk as Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives demand an investigation into his government contracts as CEO of aerospace company SpaceX, as well as his work running the Department of Government Efficiency under President Donald Trump.
Gaps
Although individual campaign donations are limited to $3,300 per person in the United States, loopholes in the U.S. campaign finance system allow political mega-donors to contribute to funds known as political action committees, or “PACs,” that support candidates.
Musk donated $76 million to his own America PAC this summer, the New York Times reported.
Other recipients of Musk’s political funding include $20 million to the Congressional Republican Leadership Fund, $10 million each to the Republican Governors Association and Lone Star Liberty PAC, and $2 million to the Republican Attorneys General Association.
The SpaceX and Tesla boss is no stranger to massive spending on US elections, donating $290 million in 2024 to help US President Donald Trump win re-election.
Trump allowed Musk to work in the White House for a few months. Musk oversaw Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cost-cutting project, but left that role after a public spat with the president.
They have since reconciled, and Trump awarded Musk the National Medal of Science at an event in DC last week.
