Musk Spends $158 Million in Texas

Voters in Texas will decide next week whether a Democratic candidate can secure the state's U.S. Senate seat, a result that would mark the party's first statewide victory in over three decades. The contest has become a high-cost battle as wealthy donors and presidential influence collide in the final days of the campaign.

Elon Musk has poured at least $158 million into the race. The funds went to the Senate Leadership Fund, which then transferred the same amount to the Texas PAC. That PAC is the largest contributor to the campaign of Republican Ken Paxton. According to AdImpact, total advertising spending in the race has surpassed $563 million since the primary.

Democratic candidate James Talarico is facing this financial onslaught. He is a seminarian and former teacher who has positioned himself as an underdog. Talarico spoke in Lubbock on Tuesday, one hour after President Donald Trump finished a speech in the same city. Talarico used metaphors from football and the Bible to describe his campaign. He told the crowd, "We’re going to shock the nation and shock the world when we beat the billionaires and take back Texas."

Trump made his third trip to Texas in a month to support Paxton. The president argued that Talarico does not represent the values of the state. "He doesn’t represent your values, and we can’t take a chance," Trump said. Trump won Lubbock County by 40 points in the 2024 election. He also won most other counties in West Texas by wide margins. Republicans hope his presence will energize loyal supporters.

The president also used the trip to discuss foreign policy. He spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who appeared briefly on stage in Corpus Christi. They highlighted a new arrangement to process more Venezuelan crude oil in Texas refineries. This message comes as gas prices rise due to a war in Iran, adding pressure on Republican candidates nationwide.

Musk, who has headquartered Tesla and SpaceX in Texas, has become a central figure in the race. Talarico now names him directly in his speeches. "He is trying to buy Texas," Talarico said. "Texas is not for sale." Paxton generally avoids discussing the billionaire's involvement. The dynamic mirrors the governor's race, where Democrat Gina Hinojosa is challenging incumbent Greg Abbott.

Hinojosa has filed a lawsuit to access communications between Abbott and Musk. A judge ruled on Monday that Hinojosa must be able to review more than 1,000 unredacted pages by Thursday. The ruling grants her access based on her role as a state representative.

The campaign trail activity extends beyond Texas. Vice President JD Vance campaigned in Michigan on Tuesday, describing the Senate race there as a clash of competing visions. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg campaigned in Mississippi for Democrat Scott Colom. He said, "It’s because Donald Trump decided to start a war and your elected leaders refused to stop him."

In California, Xavier Becerra, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, urged voters to reject a voter ID ballot measure. He stated that the measure would make voting more difficult. Becerra told a crowd in San Francisco, "We want democracy not just to shine, but be so resilient and so strong that Donald Trump cannot knock California down."

Rubio's presence with Trump is seen as a preview of potential 2028 presidential ambitions. A State Department official said Rubio is traveling as the national security adviser rather than the secretary of state. The official noted that being on the plane gives Rubio a chance to discuss various issues with the president.