Elon Musk’s PAC Spends Nearly $500 Million on 2022 Midterms, Including $47 Million Against Texas Democrat

Elon Musk’s America PAC poured almost $500 million into the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, with $47 million earmarked to defeat Texas Democrat James Talarico. Talarico beat Musk‑backed Senate candidate Ken Paxton, securing 55 percent of the vote. His campaign ads highlighted Musk’s influence, using the slogan “Texas is not for sale.” Musk’s heavy spending followed a pattern of using social‑media hype on X, the platform he owns, to reach AI‑focused audiences, according to former colleague Casey Newton, who recently returned to X. Critics linked the spending to broader anger over tech‑industry projects, especially opposition to new data centers that many view as symbols of unchecked tech power. Texans began questioning “sweetheart” deals that benefit Musk, prompting scrutiny from Governor Greg Abbott and the state attorney general. The investigation could lead to the release of previously hidden emails between Abbott and Musk. In response, Musk deleted several tweets to avoid further embarrassment. Commentators suggested that instead of political spending, Musk could have saved money by renaming SpaceX’s “Superintelligence” division back to “Artificial Intelligence,” a change that costs nothing. Others argued that hiring the legal team that fought the Twitter takeover would have offered better returns, as new political enemies now have cause to probe his business practices. ## Context The episode illustrates how billionaire political contributions can reshape local races and trigger official inquiries, especially when the donor also controls a major social platform that amplifies their message.