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Musk Donates $158M to Super PAC Backing Ken Paxton

By Drooid · Oct 17, 2026, 3:12 PM UTC · How we work

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Musk's record contributions

Elon Musk gave $158 million to Senate Leadership Fund PAC, which passed it to a Texas PAC backing Senate candidate Ken Paxton in September 2026.
Musk’s contributions in September were among the largest individual political contributions ever recorded.
The Senate Leadership Fund’s Q3 receipts hit $272.9 million, with Musk’s money forming a substantial portion of that total.
Republican groups spent $122 million on Texas ads in September and earmarked $66 million through Election Day.

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Billionaire Texas Influence

Elon Musk donated $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund super PAC, which then transferred the money to a Texas PAC backing Ken Paxton in September 2026.
The donation highlights how a single billionaire can dominate Texas politics, raising alarms about disproportionate electoral influence.
Musk’s $158 million made up a large portion of the $272.9 million Q3 receipts, alongside Talarico’s $64 million raise and Republicans’ $368 million ad spend.
Lone Star Liberty PAC received a donation from Musk, which backs Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

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Elon Musk also contributed to the Lone Star Liberty PAC, which supports Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

History

Historical Context

Supreme Court’s June 24, 2010 Citizens United ruling struck a $25,000 contribution cap, paving the way for unlimited super-PACs such as the Senate Leadership Fund, which amassed $272.9 million in Q3 2026. Elon Musk’s $158 million donation, redirected to Lone Star Liberty PAC for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, exemplifies the billionaire-driven financing surge that followed the decision.

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Musk's record contributions

Elon Musk gave $158 million to Senate Leadership Fund PAC, which passed it to a Texas PAC backing Senate candidate Ken Paxton in September 2026.
Musk’s contributions in September were among the largest individual political contributions ever recorded.
The Senate Leadership Fund’s Q3 receipts hit $272.9 million, with Musk’s money forming a substantial portion of that total.
Republican groups spent $122 million on Texas ads in September and earmarked $66 million through Election Day.

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