Musk’s big bet on Republicans comes up short

Musk’s big bet on Republicans comes up short

Elon Musk poured millions of dollars into boosting Republicans in the midterm elections, but the tech mogul’s vast wealth was no match for the blue wave that battered the GOP on Tuesday night.

© Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Associated Press

Despite spending more than $442 million this cycle — a massive sum that eclipsed his support for President Trump in the 2024 election — Republicans lost ground across the country, even in territory considered relatively safe for the party.

The GOP’s drubbing underscored the limits of the world’s richest man in shaping the political map and raises questions about how his business empire will fare under Democratic leaders in his home base of Texas and on Capitol Hill.

“Other than the Republicans, Elon Musk is probably the biggest loser of last Tuesday,” said Cayce Myers, a Virginia Tech public relations professor who has focused on political campaigns.

Musk pumped hundreds of millions into the 2024 presidential race and became a major figure in Trump’s second-term, even leading the cost-saving crackdown that led to sweeping cuts and layoffs in the federal government.

But after pouring millions into a Wisconsin race that didn’t pay off last year, Musk said he’d scale back spending.

That pledge didn’t hold for long, and Musk started midterm spending in late 2025. By Election Day, he was the top donor by a mile.

“You have to have money to be competitive. No question,” Myers added. “But money cannot guarantee outcome.”

Check out a full report at TheHill.com on Monday morning.

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