Elon Musk Invests $158 Million in Ken Paxton's Texas Senate Campaign Amid Trump Concerns
Trillionaire's substantial donations to the Senate Leadership Fund and Texas PAC aim to bolster the Republican's struggling bid against Democrat James Talarico, as President Trump expresses worries about the race's outcome.
Elon Musk has injected $158 million into the campaign of Republican Texas Senate hopeful Ken Paxton, a significant investment aimed at shoring up a race where recent polling has shown Paxton trailing.
Federal Election Commission filings revealed that Musk made two donations totaling $158 million in September to the Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican-aligned super PAC. This money was subsequently transferred to the Texas PAC, which is actively supporting Paxton's candidacy. The disclosure arrives as President Donald Trump has publicly voiced concerns about Paxton's ability to win the traditionally Republican stronghold.
Trump criticized what he termed "weak and ineffective political hacks," including incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn and political contributor Karl Rove, suggesting they would bear responsibility if Paxton loses. Trump has also referred to Paxton's Democratic opponent, James Talarico, by the moniker 'TalaFREAKO.' Rove, a former adviser to President George W. Bush, has stated he will not support Paxton due to the Texas Attorney General's ongoing corruption charges and infidelity allegations.
A poll released on Thursday indicated that Musk's financial intervention may be influencing the race. InsiderAdvantage reported that Paxton now holds a one-point lead over Talarico, though this is within the poll's margin of error. This result offers a more positive outlook for Paxton after a series of polls had placed him behind Talarico.
Axios reported that Musk's team initiated contact with the Senate Leadership Fund in late August, citing concerns about the trajectory of the Texas Senate race and the effectiveness of Paxton's messaging against Talarico's advertising campaigns. A plan was reportedly devised to raise $20 million for Paxton's benefit, with Musk contributing $10 million, the Senate Leadership Fund providing $5 million, and a pro-Paxton super PAC raising an additional $5 million. The subsequent creation of the Texas PAC in September saw Musk emerge as its apparent sole donor.
Musk, whose company SpaceX is headquartered in Texas, has had a complex relationship with Trump and Republican political causes. After being a significant donor to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, Musk had a public falling out with the former president in June 2025. However, by November, Musk had rejoined Trump's circle and attended a White House dinner with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He resumed donating to Republican causes in December and also attended a state dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping last month.
While Senator Cornyn has stated he will vote for Paxton, he is not actively campaigning for his former primary rival. Paxton, who received Trump's endorsement in their primary contest, faces Talarico in a race that has drawn substantial outside financial interest.
