By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Saturday has become the largest individual political donor in modern US history, committed approx $446 million to the 2026 midterm elections as Republicans seek to protect their majorities in Congress.
Federal filings revealed September contributions worth $158 million that were followed by matching transfers to a Texas political group.
America PAC has also expanded its advertising and voter mobilisation efforts.
Musk has directed much of his political funding towards Republican candidates and allied groups ahead of the November 3 elections, with the closely contested Texas Senate race emerging as a major focus of his spending.
A Washington Post analysis of federal election filings published on October 23 placed Musk’s contributions at $446 million, while The Hill reported a total exceeding $442 million.
The latest disclosures establish a record for individual political donations in modern American history.
The latest surge followed a $76.8 million contribution to America PAC, the political action committee Musk established during the 2024 presidential election cycle.
The money arrived in October, giving the group additional resources for its voter mobilisation and advertising operations in the final weeks before polling.
According to WIRED, America PAC spent nearly $43 million during the first two weeks of October and had approx $47 million available at the end of that period.
Its operations include digital advertising and efforts to increase Republican voter turnout.
The latest contributions mark a return to substantial political financing for Musk, who spent more than $250 million backing Donald Trump and other Republican candidates in 2024.
His renewed involvement also follows a public disagreement with Trump in 2025, after which Musk had indicated that he intended to scale back his political spending.
Texas has attracted particularly substantial financial support from Musk-linked political groups as state Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for the US Senate, faces Democratic candidate James Talarico.
Federal Election Commission filings show that Musk contributed $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, a major political action committee supporting Republican Senate candidates, in September.
The donations came in two instalments: $75 million on September 9 and $83 million on September 23.
The committee transferred matching amounts to Texas PAC, a separate political group supporting Paxton, on the day after each donation.
Media reported that the two contributions accounted for more than half the Senate Leadership Fund’s third-quarter receipts.
Musk’s trust donated $10 million to Lone Star Liberty PAC, another group supporting Paxton.
His financial involvement extends beyond Texas.
Other contributions include funding for the Congressional Leadership Fund, which supports Republican candidates for the House of Representatives, as well as organisations backing Republican governors and attorneys general.
The Texas contest carries particular significance because Republicans are defending a Senate seat amid a competitive race.
Paxton and Talarico are among the candidates listed on the state’s official November ballot.
The November 3 elections will determine control of the House of Representatives and Senate for the final two years of Trump’s current presidential term.
Republicans hold both chambers, placed the party’s congressional majorities at the centre of the election battle.
A shift in control of either chamber could reshape the administration’s ability to work.
The elections also carry potential business implications for Musk.
Democratic lawmakers have called for scrutiny of his federal government contracts and his previous role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, media reported.
