Elon Musk’s Ties to Texas Republicans Go Much Deeper Than the Midterms
Elon Musk has become a major financial backer for Texas Republicans, including Attorney General Ken Paxton and Governor Greg Abbott. The relationship has sparked legal battles over the transparency of communications between Musk and the Governor's office.
Why it matters
The report underscores the significant influence of high-profile donors in state-level politics and the ongoing debate over government transparency.
While polls suggest that a number of races in deep-red Texas are looking dizzyingly close, Federal Election Commission filings show that Musk has given at least $158 million to super PACs supporting Texas attorney general Ken Paxton’s bid for Senate, and last week Musk explicitly endorsed him in a post on X. “The fate of Texas and America is at stake,” Musk wrote. “Vote for @KenPaxtonTX today.”
Newly released state campaign filings also show that Musk also donated $5,000,000 to Governor Greg Abbott’s bid for reelection, making him his single largest donor.
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