Elon Musk’s $10 million stake in the race to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is the clearest sign yet that he is planning a return to the campaign arena for the midterms and is ready to spend big on candidates aligned with President Trump.
The stage is now set for an election cycle fueled by big personalities, big stakes and even bigger checks.
For Mr. Trump’s political machine, already flush with cash, Mr. Musk’s return as a megadonor is a shot of adrenaline for an all‑out blitz to protect the Republicans’ grip on Congress and send more Trump‑loyal lawmakers to Washington.
“Republicans are going to be excited to have Musk’s financial support,” said Alex Conant, a Republican political strategist.
Democrats aren’t complaining either. They see Mr. Musk as the embodiment of their message that the Trump era is benefiting billionaires while squeezing Americans who feel financially strapped.
“Elon Musk’s endorsement and accepting his money is the kiss of death,” Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, told The Washington Times. “We’ve seen that when Elon Musk is involved, Democrats do pretty well.”
No matter who is right about the outcome, the ride is likely to be exciting.
Mr. Musk was the single biggest financial player in the 2024 elections. He dropped nearly $300 million to help Mr. Trump and other Republicans in their successful campaign to control the White House and Congress.
He opened his checkbook again last year to put $25 million on a Supreme Court race in Wisconsin. He pledged to give $100 to any state voter who signed a petition against “activist judges.”
Democrats made a major campaign issue of his financial involvement and his high-profile work on Mr. Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. Mr. Musk’s candidate lost, cementing a liberal majority on the court.
Even Republicans who appreciated Mr. Musk’s financial firepower acknowledged that his heavy‑handed involvement fed the narrative that he was trying to buy elections for Republicans.
Mr. Musk then stepped back from politics — and Mr. Trump — to focus on his business empire.
How much he will spend this election season is unclear, though political oddsmakers at BetOnline.ag have set the early over/under line at $249.5 million.
Mr. Musk’s latest donation, routed from his America PAC to a super PAC for Nate Morris in Kentucky, is the first time he has given money to a candidate’s super PAC.
Mr. Morris announced his bid for the Senate on Donald Trump Jr.’s podcast and is running as a “Trump America First conservative.”
He has echoed the president’s criticism of Mr. McConnell, who is not seeking reelection after decades representing the state, and has cast his rivals, Rep. Andy Barr and former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, as McConnell “puppets.”
Mr. Trump sounds delighted to have Mr. Musk back in the fold.
“Elon’s great,” Mr. Trump recently told reporters aboard Air Force One. “I say about Elon, he is 80% super genius and 20% he makes mistakes, but he is a good guy. He is a well-meaning person.”
Mr. Trump’s super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc., started the year with nearly $300 million after raising more than $100 million in just three months.
Mr. Musk’s path to Mr. Trump’s political circle has been winding.
He supported Barack Obama and Joseph R. Biden before embracing Mr. Trump in the 2024 contest. Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk forged a monumental partnership, and Mr. Musk became a special government employee to head DOGE.
After a falling-out in the spring, Mr. Musk denounced Mr. Trump, questioned his involvement with late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, mocked the president’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act as a debt bomb and flirted with forming his own party.
Now, he appears to have been drawn back into the Trump orbit.
Polls show Mr. Musk’s image has taken a tumble, particularly among Democrats and independents. Republicans still view him positively, though at a lower level than before his spat with Mr. Trump.
Mr. Conant said he doubted that Democrats’ attempts to highlight Mr. Musk would move the needle.
“Midterm elections are usually a referendum on the president, and Musk’s relationship with the White House is complicated,” he said.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.