Elon Musk’s close ties to Texas’ political leadership are facing renewed scrutiny as the 2026 midterm elections approach. Federal Election Commission filings show that Musk has given at least $158 million to a super PAC supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign, while a newly released state report shows he donated $5 million to Gov. Greg Abbott’s reelection effort, making Musk Abbott’s largest individual donor.
Musk backs Paxton and Abbott
Although polls suggest that many races in traditionally Republican Texas are unusually close, Musk explicitly endorsed Paxton in a post on X last week.
“The fate of Texas and America is at stake,” Musk wrote. “Vote for @KenPaxtonTX today.”
The newly released state campaign report lists Musk’s $5 million contribution to Abbott’s reelection effort.
Dispute over Abbott-Musk correspondence
The relationship between Abbott and Musk has attracted public interest for years. State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, who is challenging Abbott, recently sued to obtain access to all 1,400 pages of correspondence between the governor and Musk. Abbott had sought to block their release.
Abbott’s office described the communications as “intimate and embarrassing.”
This week, a judge ruled that Abbott had unlawfully “interfered with, and continues to interfere with” Hinojosa’s right, as a state lawmaker, to access the documents and ordered their release. Abbott has appealed. A hearing is scheduled for November 2, one day before the election.
Talarico attacks Paxton’s record
State Rep. James Talarico, Paxton’s opponent in the Senate race, has focused his campaign on Paxton’s controversial record. As attorney general, Paxton was indicted on felony securities-fraud charges, which he settled without entering a plea. A whistleblower also accused him of using his office to obtain financial benefits for political donors, and he was impeached before being acquitted.
At a campaign event in El Paso on Monday, Talarico questioned Paxton’s relationship with Musk.
“Ken Paxton is the ultimate megadonor,” Talarico said. “Elon Musk is trying to buy this Senate seat.”
Musk’s longstanding Texas ties
Musk’s involvement in Texas politics predates the midterm elections. Over the years, he has benefited from favorable relationships with state officials, tax breaks and allies among Texas leaders.
Tesla moved its headquarters from Palo Alto, California, to Austin in 2021. In 2024, SpaceX moved its headquarters from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas.
Musk’s initial move to Texas coincided with a shift in operations at the Texas attorney general’s office. Previously, attorneys would draft notices of investigation—administrative subpoenas known as CIDs—based on public complaints or evidence they had gathered, then send them to senior officials for approval.
Source: www.wired.com
