Musk becomes largest known donor of 2026 US midterm cycle
publishers 39articles 47first reported 7 Oct, 09:00 UTCdeveloping since 7 Oct · 26 editions
Elon Musk has become the largest known donor of the 2026 US midterm election cycle, directing about $366 million to political groups and campaigns, primarily in support of Republicans. More than $276 million was donated since July, according to figures first reported by The New York Times and confirmed by a spokesperson for Musk’s America PAC.
The largest contribution was $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, the main super PAC supporting Republican Senate candidates. Musk also gave more than $76 million to America PAC, which is working in competitive House and Senate races, as well as $20 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund, $10 million to the Republican Governors Association and $2 million to the Republican Attorneys General Association. A separate $10 million went to a political action committee supporting Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton.
The spending exceeds the roughly $290 million Musk contributed during the 2024 presidential election cycle and reverses his statement in May 2025 that he intended to spend much less on politics. The latest donations come as Republicans seek to retain their congressional majorities in the November 3 elections.
America PAC spokesperson Andrew Romeo told the Times that the spending had helped Republicans communicate their message and compete against the historical tendency for the president’s party to lose seats in midterm elections. Political committees are due to disclose third-quarter finances in federal filings on Thursday.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 7 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 150 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 39
- Source articles
- 47
- Given to the writer
- 8, 7 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 150 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →