- Musk’s rescue breathed new life into Paxton’s dormant campaign and showed why the world’s richest person is the X factor in efforts to prevent a midterm debacle for President Trump’s party.
Zoom out: It also helped Republicans avoid a death spiral scenario: Supporting Paxton in Texas would force them to drain much-needed resources in other Senate battlegrounds.
- Instead, Musk’s money allowed Republicans to flood expensive Texas TV markets and free up cash to support surprisingly competitive races in Kansas and South Carolina.
Behind the scenes: In late August, Democrat James Talarico dominated the Texas airwaves, describing Paxton, the state’s attorney general, as one of the most corrupt politicians in the country.
- Paxton, who is not known for being a prolific fundraiser, was grim on television. Polls consulted by Musk’s team and the Republican Party’s Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) suggested his chances were slipping.
In this context, Musk’s top political adviser, Chris Young, called SLF Chairman Alex Latcham with an idea: Musk would give $5 million to a pro-Paxton super PAC if that group raised another $5 million.
- Latcham countered: Would Musk contribute $10 million if the pro-Paxton group raised $5 million and the SLF contributed another $5 million?
- Young agreed. Within days, Republicans had raised $20 million to put Paxton on television.
The plot: It was only the beginning. SLF and Musk’s America PAC concluded that a much larger operation was needed, given the enormous cost of advertising in Texas.
- SLF and pro-Trump MAGA Inc. are reportedly running tens of millions of dollars in pro-Paxton ads, alongside America PAC’s multimillion-dollar voter turnout operation — the GOP’s “ground game” in campaign parlance.
On September 11, The day after the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, SLF launched the Texas PAC, a new super PAC dedicated to supporting Paxton.
- At a donor luncheon during the convention, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) stressed the importance of holding Texas to preserve the Republican Party’s Senate majority, while Latcham argued for massive financial intervention.
In figures: Musk, the world’s richest person, contributed $158 million to the SLF in September – $75 million on September 9 and another $83 million on September 23.
- Musk accounted for nearly 58% of the $273 million SLF raised during the third quarter. The group ended the quarter with $155 million on hand.
- In total, Musk has donated $276 million to pro-GOP midterm efforts since July, The New York Times first reported.
The backstory: SLF had warned months earlier that nominating Paxton to replace outgoing Sen. John Cornyn would impose a huge financial burden on Republicans.
- Thune supported Cornyn, fearing that Paxton’s legal troubles and personal scandals would make him more vulnerable to Democratic attacks.
- In a memo to donors in the spring of 2025, the SLF projected that electing Paxton could cost between $150 million and $200 million, far more than Cornyn’s general election campaign would cost.
- Paxton, a Trump loyalist, won the GOP primary after the president endorsed him.
The big picture: Musk’s midterm outburst marks a dramatic return to Republican politics after his bitter falling out with Trump last year.
- Musk and Trump later reconciled, and the billionaire began donating to Republican causes again in December.
- Thune visited Musk’s Tesla factory in Austin, Texas, last year to discuss the political landscape. Musk listened but made no commitments.
- The two men remained on good terms, even as Musk pushed for passage of Trump’s SAVE Act, which Republicans failed to pass through the Senate.
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