Elon Musk's Texas-sized midterms failure

Elon Musk was the 2026 midterms' largest donor. He's already one of its biggest losers.

Musk, the world's richest person, donated at smallest $446 myriad onward of the midterms. The biggest recipients of Musk's largesse were America PAC, his excellent PAC, and the top excellent PACs of Senate and House Republicans.

Musk chose to create his biggest perform in Texas, his adopted residence province and the agency of Tesla and SpaceX. In September alone, Musk donated $158 myriad to Senate Republicans' chief excellent PAC, which was quickly routed to a excellent PAC supporting GOP applicant and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. In supplement to those donations, Musk's America PAC has spent complete $47 myriad against Democratic nominee James Talarico. All told, The New York Times reported that Musk spent approximately $224 myriad in the state.

As of delayed Tuesday night, The Associated Press has already projected that Talarico volition be Texas' next legislator and that province Rep. Gina Hinojosa, additionally a Democrat, volition be the state's next governor. Democrats' decadeslong aspiration — and Musk's nightmare — came true: Texas is blue.

Talarico, who had increasingly targeted Musk, compared his triumph to the biblical narrative of David defeating Goliath.

"The richest man in the world, the most mighty man in the world, and the complete Washington D.C. establishment," Talarico stated during his triumph speech. "David wasn't as big or as powerful as Goliath. He didn't have as many weapons, but he had hope. He had faith, and he had a slingshot."

Musk's bets indicate his statements that the midterms offered Republicans a chance to build up a defence to Democrats possibly sweeping authority of Washington in 2028. In specified a scenario, Musk stated he is concerned that Democrats volition aid Washington, DC and Puerto Rico statehood and shove far-left policies akin offering authorization to group living in the nation illegally.

"This would outcome in America becoming a imperishable one-party province and the end of self-government in any meaningful awareness of the word," Musk wrote on X on October 30.

Once an Obama supporter, Musk has swung difficult to the correct in latest years. He has quickly surpassed the Koch brothers, Elizabeth and Richard Uihlein, and another megadonors to rotate into the biggest spender in the GOP.

Musk has additionally indicated that he's conscious Democrats are enthusiastic to haul him in forefront of Congress.

"Live by the sword, die by the sword," Musk wrote on X in October. "Those who choice fights alongside me should comprehend that I volition discover out who is really pulling the strings and arrive for them, not fair their puppets …"

Musk's ROI has been mixed

In the 2024 elections, Musk spent additional than $290 million, the huge bulk of which was directed to assisting President Donald Trump retake the White House.

For his efforts, Musk afterward became the productive chief of the White House DOGE office. In first 2025, DOGE's sweeping command helped create him among the most mighty group in the complete government.

Musk returned to the run trail in 2025, spending complete $20 myriad between himself and allied excellent PACs on a Wisconsin province Supreme Court election. He equal donned among the Green Bay Packers' celebrated cheeseheads. This time, Musk's spending wasn't enough. His preferred applicant misplaced by additional than 10 points.

Musk's midterm spending has confirmed his continued assistance for Republicans, item he briefly threw into inquiry during his falling-out alongside President Donald Trump. In June 2025, Musk threatened to create a third party, called the America Party, but never earnestly followed through on his plans.

He won't have to delay lengthy for his next opportunity. Few races are additional tantalizing for donors than presidential elections. History additionally shows that a big contributor (even one alongside small zeros in their net worth) can keep a struggling applicant floating lengthy following it appears their run is deceased in the water.

Now that the midterms are wrapped up, the 2028 presidential primaries are about the corner. Musk may desire to get his checkbook ready.