The Texas Senate contest between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico has increasingly become a fight over Elon Musk’s money and influence, as the race enters its final days. Talarico has portrayed Paxton as dependent on a single billionaire, while Musk has used both political spending and his social-media platform to attack the Democratic nominee.
Musk gave $158 million in September to the Senate Leadership Fund, the main super PAC supporting Republican Senate candidates. The group then transferred the same amount to Texas PAC, which has reported more than $100 million in spending supporting Paxton and opposing Talarico. Musk also gave $10 million to Lone Star Liberty PAC, a group backing Paxton, and more than $80 million to America PAC, which has spent money in the Texas contest and other competitive races.
The spending has coincided with a broader escalation in the campaign. Total advertising expenditures since the nominees were selected have approached $340 million, with Paxton’s allied groups giving him an advantage in overall spending even though Talarico’s campaign has raised and spent more directly.
Musk’s personal involvement became more visible in October, when he amplified a false online claim that Talarico had received mental-health treatment at a facility in Ohio. Talarico’s campaign said he had been absent from the trail because of the flu, and the facility publicly said he had never received treatment there. Talarico later dismissed the allegation and continued campaigning, turning the episode into another example of what his campaign presents as Musk’s effort to shape the race from outside the ballot.
Talarico is seeking to unite independents and disaffected Republicans around an anti-corruption and economic message, while Paxton is relying on Republican turnout, Trump’s support and the financial network assembled by Musk and other conservative donors. The result will help determine control of the Senate and test whether Democratic gains among some Texas voters can overcome the state’s entrenched Republican structure.