Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jul 16
Musk Spread $5.5 Million Across Ramaswamy, Abbott and a Democratic AG Group
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jul 16

Musk Spread $5.5 Million Across Ramaswamy, Abbott and a Democratic AG Group

3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jul 16

Summary

  • $5 million of Elon Musk’s newly disclosed Q2 political giving went to Vivek Ramaswamy’s Ohio governor campaign in May, alongside a separate $500,000 gift to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s main committee.
  • The filings also showed an unusual cross-party move: xAI, now part of Musk’s SpaceX empire, gave $25,000 to the Democratic Attorneys General Association.
  • Those donations landed as billionaires and tech executives steered multi-million-dollar sums toward midterm super PACs, with much of the money favoring Republicans despite a recent Supreme Court ruling that could weaken super PAC influence.
  • Issue One’s Isabel Sunderland said the spending surge suggests executives under growing congressional and public scrutiny are using political money to protect their business interests.

Insights

Can a state-level donation cap challenge the billions from mega-donors in national politics?
Why is Elon Musk backing a former rival after their controversial government efficiency project?
What happens when a tech CEO's 'disruption' is aimed at the federal government itself?