Elon Musk has announced that he will significantly reduce his political spending, a sudden reversal of his pledge to continue playing a major role in US elections. This move is rippling across the nation’s political landscape, leaving some Republicans worried about losing their biggest donor and Democrats fearing they are losing their foil.
Musk’s group, America PAC, spent nearly $20 million supporting Republicans in swing House districts last year. He also contributed over $260 million to the 2024 election cycle and supported Republican candidates in Florida special elections this year. However, his political capital seems to have faded after he backed a losing Republican candidate in Wisconsin.
Despite this, some Republicans are still holding out hope that Musk will make a comeback in Virginia’s gubernatorial race. GOP candidate Winsome Earle-Sears faces a major cash disadvantage against Democrat Abigail Spanberger. Meanwhile, Democrats expect Musk to funnel contributions through non-public means and are prepared for him to continue playing a role in US elections.
“I believe he will start moving his money in the background, through nonprofits,” said Pat Dennis, president of American Bridge, a major Democratic super PAC. “It’ll be a lot more of that now.”
Not all Republicans are convinced about Musk’s decision. Some, like Senator Markwayne Mullin, praised Musk for his efforts and expected him to return to politics if he felt it was necessary.
The future of Musk’s campaign spending remains uncertain, leaving both parties to wait and see what will happen next.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/22/musk-campaign-spending-republicans-00364360