musk-pac-midterm-election

Exclusive: Musk plans massive push for GOP in midterms

Alex Isenstadt

Photo illustration of Elon Musk holding an America PAC check that reads "republicans" with an elephant trunk around his shoulders — Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is jumping into the midterms with a huge investment in a plan to boost Republican voter turnout, Axios has learned.

Driving the news: Musk is resuscitating his dormant super PAC, America PAC, which spent more than $260 million to help get President Trump elected in 2024.

America PAC will focus on door-knocking, digital advertising and direct mail aimed at turning out the conservative base, including voters who typically are less inclined to cast ballots in a non-presidential election year, sources with knowledge of the plans tell Axios.
Musk's representatives declined to specify exactly how much he'd spend. But given what he donated in 2024, the number is expected to be high.

Zoom in: Musk's pro-Trump donations through America PAC in 2024 made him the largest individual political donor in a single election cycle in U.S. history.

"America PAC was an essential partner for our historic GOTV operation in 2024, and their return for 2026 is a huge boost for Republicans across the country," James Blair, President Trump's senior political adviser, told Axios.
"We will again outsmart our opponents and ruthlessly execute our mission for the GOP between now and Election Day," Blair added.

The big picture: Musk's investment will add to a huge Republican cash edge over Democrats at a time when Trump's low approval ratings — particularly on the economy and the Iran war — have put GOP control of the House, and perhaps the Senate, in jeopardy in the Nov. 3 elections.

GOP super PACs and committees have a $300 million-plus advantage over their Democratic counterparts — and that doesn't include the $400 million sitting in Trump's MAGA Inc. super PAC.
Republicans are hoping their money will offset the political environment favoring Democrats.

Behind the scenes: Musk, the world's richest person, has been in talks with Trump's team about how he can help.

America PAC, which has said it knocked on more than 10 million doors in 2024 across more than a half-dozen swing states, will coordinate with the other groups in the Republican ecosystem.
By focusing on voter turnout, Musk's group will allow other GOP groups to gear their efforts toward TV ads.

Musk's effort will be led by his top political adviser, Chris Young.

Flashback: Musk had a falling out with Trump after a four-month stint leading DOGE. Musk — infuriated by the massive spending in Trump's "big, beautiful bill" — floated the idea of starting a third party to work against the GOP.

But his relationship with the president has warmed somewhat over the last year, and by the end of 2025 he was back to contributing to the GOP.
He also cut a $10 million check to Kentucky GOP Senate candidate Nate Morris, who eventually dropped out of the race to take a job in the Trump administration.

What they're saying: "The president's political team and the rest of the GOP apparatus have built a top-notch operation that will put Republicans in a strong position to buck history and retain control of Congress this fall, and we're excited to again be part of the team," America PAC spokesperson Andrew Romeo told Axios.

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