Elon Musk’s America PAC has spent about $40 million on independent expenditures this cycle, according to FEC filings as of Friday, October 9, CNN reported. More than $31 million of that went to Senate races, led by Texas. The same report says two Democratic state officials are criticizing the group’s voter texts.
Where the money is going
CNN says the PAC spent more than $228,000 for Rep. Gabe Evans in Colorado’s 8th District, which it describes as a tossup. The San Antonio Current reported on September 29 that the PAC spent $6.3 million to help Ken Paxton and oppose James Talarico in Texas.
Musk’s own money
CNN says Musk has disclosed about $50 million to America PAC and about $40 million to other GOP-aligned super PACs this cycle, including $5 million to a group backing Vivek Ramaswamy’s run for Ohio governor. It says he spent nearly $300 million in 2024. FactCheck.org noted that the New York Times reported he authorized $100 million to $120 million for a field program in at least eight states.
The voter-text dispute
CNN reports that Colorado’s Jena Griswold and Washington’s Steve Hobbs, both Democratic state election officials, criticized PAC texts and a site called VoteSafe.org. In Colorado, a text said “Your ballot request is in,” which confused voters. Weld County’s Carly Koppes, a Republican election official, called such efforts normal. The PAC said Washington officials were trying to suppress registration.
Our take: the spending totals come from public filings, so they are easy to check. The text dispute is a claim and a counterclaim between officials and the PAC. The next number to watch is the third-quarter FEC report, due October 15.
