Elon Musk's $158 million donation has become a major issue in the Texas Senate race. A GOP super PAC took the cash and sent an equal amount to a group backing Ken Paxton. His Democratic rival, James Talarico, has made the billionaire's role a key part of his campaign.
Talarico has been calling out Musk at events across Texas. At a San Antonio rally, he accused the billionaire of seeking control over state land, water, public funds, and political power. The crowd booed Musk as Talarico spoke. His campaign has also put out an ad linking Paxton to the Tesla boss.
There's a lot at stake beyond the two candidates. The Texas contest could help decide which party holds the U.S. Senate. Musk has major business interests across the state, where he also lives. Talarico argues that his financial role raises questions about whose interests Paxton would serve.
And Musk has been quite active on X. He gave Paxton his public support and made 18 posts attacking Talarico in one week. Some accused the Democrat of disliking Texas. Yet Musk has not joined Paxton at campaign events.
Paxton rarely brings up Musk in public speeches. His emails to donors tell a different tale. One message praised the billionaire for helping Republicans protect their Senate majority against Democrats. Neither Paxton's team nor Musk's aides gave a response when asked about the dispute.
For Talarico, the donor debate fits his broader campaign pitch. He says 1.3 million people have given cash to his run. Small gifts make up much of his funding, and he does not accept corporate PAC money. That claim drew loud cheers at his San Antonio event.
The money gap between both candidates has been large. Talarico collected far more direct campaign cash, while Paxton and his allies had less to spend on ads for much of the race. Then groups tied to Trump, Musk, and Senate Republicans put tens of millions into ads for Paxton.
But Talarico has had to answer questions about rich backers as well. Billionaires have given money to outside groups that favor him. He points out that those groups cannot legally plan their spending with his campaign. Critics argue that wealthy donors still hold a lot of sway on both sides.
Texas Democratic strategist Matt Angle says voter research has picked up concern over corruption and the power of rich donors. He sees Musk as a prime example of those fears among some voters. Talarico's team claims Musk's attacks have grown more heated because the spending has not had its desired effect.
Wisconsin offers an earlier case of Musk entering a tight race. He and allied groups put more than $20 million behind a conservative candidate for the state Supreme Court. The liberal rival won. His public role may have stirred more Democratic anger, though the exact effect remains open to debate.
Michigan had its own fight over big political donations. Abdul El-Sayed went after fellow Democrat Haley Stevens over ads paid for by groups linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Those groups spent above $30 million in her favor, but El-Sayed took the party nomination.
Among Paxton supporters, views on Musk are mixed. George Gutierrez, 72, from Round Rock, has no issue with the alliance. He sees the billionaire's help as fair game in the race.
Bobby Bagwell, 54, sees it another way. The Leander home builder dislikes having extremely rich people pour cash into politics. Yet he also thinks Talarico's attacks are selective, given that wealthy donors support outside groups on the Democratic side as well.
Talarico has been calling out Musk at events across Texas. At a San Antonio rally, he accused the billionaire of seeking control over state land, water, public funds, and political power. The crowd booed Musk as Talarico spoke. His campaign has also put out an ad linking Paxton to the Tesla boss.
There's a lot at stake beyond the two candidates. The Texas contest could help decide which party holds the U.S. Senate. Musk has major business interests across the state, where he also lives. Talarico argues that his financial role raises questions about whose interests Paxton would serve.
And Musk has been quite active on X. He gave Paxton his public support and made 18 posts attacking Talarico in one week. Some accused the Democrat of disliking Texas. Yet Musk has not joined Paxton at campaign events.
Paxton rarely brings up Musk in public speeches. His emails to donors tell a different tale. One message praised the billionaire for helping Republicans protect their Senate majority against Democrats. Neither Paxton's team nor Musk's aides gave a response when asked about the dispute.
For Talarico, the donor debate fits his broader campaign pitch. He says 1.3 million people have given cash to his run. Small gifts make up much of his funding, and he does not accept corporate PAC money. That claim drew loud cheers at his San Antonio event.
The money gap between both candidates has been large. Talarico collected far more direct campaign cash, while Paxton and his allies had less to spend on ads for much of the race. Then groups tied to Trump, Musk, and Senate Republicans put tens of millions into ads for Paxton.
But Talarico has had to answer questions about rich backers as well. Billionaires have given money to outside groups that favor him. He points out that those groups cannot legally plan their spending with his campaign. Critics argue that wealthy donors still hold a lot of sway on both sides.
Texas Democratic strategist Matt Angle says voter research has picked up concern over corruption and the power of rich donors. He sees Musk as a prime example of those fears among some voters. Talarico's team claims Musk's attacks have grown more heated because the spending has not had its desired effect.
Wisconsin offers an earlier case of Musk entering a tight race. He and allied groups put more than $20 million behind a conservative candidate for the state Supreme Court. The liberal rival won. His public role may have stirred more Democratic anger, though the exact effect remains open to debate.
Michigan had its own fight over big political donations. Abdul El-Sayed went after fellow Democrat Haley Stevens over ads paid for by groups linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Those groups spent above $30 million in her favor, but El-Sayed took the party nomination.
Among Paxton supporters, views on Musk are mixed. George Gutierrez, 72, from Round Rock, has no issue with the alliance. He sees the billionaire's help as fair game in the race.
Bobby Bagwell, 54, sees it another way. The Leander home builder dislikes having extremely rich people pour cash into politics. Yet he also thinks Talarico's attacks are selective, given that wealthy donors support outside groups on the Democratic side as well.
