Musk's Midterm-Cycle Giving Totals $366 Million, With Federal Filings Due Thursday

Since the New York Times reported Monday that Elon Musk had given at least $276 million to Republican groups since July, more detail has emerged on how that money fits into his larger cycle total and who is answering for it.

The bigger number is $366 million. That is what Musk has spent so far in the election cycle that began Jan. 1, 2025, according to figures confirmed by an America PAC spokesman. In the 2024 cycle, which ended with Donald Trump beating Kamala Harris, Musk spent roughly $290 million.

He has passed that mark with weeks still to go. In May 2025 he said he would "do a lot less" political spending in the future.

Where the $90 million went

Not all of the $366 million is midterm ad money. An America PAC spokesman told Reuters that roughly $90 million spent this cycle paid for work done in the prior election or supported other issues.

The spokesman named two examples. One was an unsuccessful candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The other was a program that paid $1 million to registered voters who signed a petition backing free speech and gun rights.

That breakdown comes from Musk's own operation. It has not been independently itemized in public filings.

The third-quarter checks

The summer giving breaks down this way, per the America PAC spokesman:

• $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, the super PAC aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune
• $76 million to America PAC, which is active in seven Senate battlegrounds and nearly three dozen House races
• $20 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund, aligned with Speaker Mike Johnson
• $10 million to Lone Star Liberty PAC, which backs Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Senate run
• $10 million to the Republican Governors Association
• $2 million to the Republican Attorneys General Association

Musk also gave through groups that do not disclose their donors, according to the Times. Those amounts are not itemized.

The Texas money matters. Recent polls have Paxton in a dead heat with Democrat James Talarico, Reuters reported. The MAGA Inc. super PAC had $416 million on hand as of August and spent $22 million in a single month on that race.

What America PAC says

America PAC spokesman Andrew Romeo framed the spending as defense. "These robust investments have allowed the GOP apparatus to get its message out so Republicans can have a fighting chance to defy history," he told the Times.

Romeo also said that if Democrats win control of Washington and key governor and attorney general races, "America risks becoming a socialist, woke and borderless country."

The party in power usually loses seats in a midterm, and Republicans are working against Trump's low approval and voter anxiety over the cost of living.

The Democratic response

Lauren French, a spokesperson for the Democrats' Senate Majority PAC, said: "Republicans are hoping to buy these elections, injecting tens of millions into races to try and outrun their unpopular candidates, unpopular president and unpopular economy."

The Times reported that Musk's $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund alone exceeded everything Senate Majority PAC raised from all donors in the quarter. The spending gap is not limited to Musk. AdImpact, an ad-tracking firm, found Republican campaigns, committees and allied groups have outspent Democratic counterparts by $400 million this cycle.

Money has not guaranteed results. Reuters noted that Democratic chances of retaking the House and Senate have improved even as Musk's spending climbed.

The government-contract angle

House Democrats are calling for investigations into SpaceX's government contracts and into Musk's work running the Department of Government Efficiency under Trump. No investigation has been announced, and no charges or findings exist. Musk has not been accused of linking his donations to any contract.

The calls do show how much Musk has riding on the outcome. SpaceX went public on Nasdaq in June, and Musk became the world's first trillionaire. He gave the $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund in the months afterward.

What comes next

Many super PACs must file third-quarter spending reports on Thursday, Oct. 15. That will put the Senate Leadership Fund, Congressional Leadership Fund and America PAC amounts into federal records. It should show whether the figures his representatives gave the Times match the filings.

The dark-money portion will still not be visible. The midterm elections are Nov. 3.