Musk’s Millions Reshape Texas’ High-Stakes Midterm Contests
Billionaire’s cash surge lands in the Senate race and the governor’s mansion fight, just as both look closer than Republicans expected.
Elon Musk has become one of the biggest financial forces in Texas politics this fall, and his money has arrived at a pivotal moment.
Through September, Democratic state Rep. James Talarico had raised nearly $123 million in his U.S. Senate bid, compared with about $19.5 million for Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Musk’s giving has erased much of that gap.
On Sept. 9, he gave $75 million to the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), which sent the same sum to the Paxton-aligned Texas PAC the next day.
On Sept. 23, he gave another $83 million, which moved to Texas PAC on Sept. 24. Those two transfers, totaling $158 million, are the only contributions Texas PAC has received. Weeks earlier, on Aug. 21, his revocable trust gave $10 million to Lone Star Liberty PAC, which also backs Paxton. His own America PAC has spent more than $2.6 million on texts, calls and mailers.
A race that tightened
SLF initially stayed out of Texas.
Once Musk’s money arrived, Texas PAC bought roughly $32 million in broadcast ads, and SLF has since spent over $124 million promoting Paxton.
Polls show a near dead heat.
Money alone doesn’t guarantee a win, but it has let Republicans compete in the airwaves.
The governor’s race
Musk has also given $500,000 each to Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
Abbott had about $67 million on hand at the end of June, while Democratic nominee Gina Hinojosa reported roughly $3 million. Even so, polling suggests the governor’s race is competitive for the first time in decades, and Abbott’s cash advantage is likely to dominate paid messaging through Nov. 3.
Why Texas matters to Musk
Texas is the base of Musk’s business empire.
Tesla, SpaceX and X are all headquartered in the state.
Tesla and SpaceX are part of a joint venture developing Terafab, a massive chipmaking factory near Houston, and Tesla launched its Robotaxi service in Austin.
Musk’s companies have also benefited from state law, including a ban on drones over spaceports passed at SpaceX’s urging, and critics argue the state has given them added protection from scrutiny. GOP strategist Matt Langston told CNN that, given Musk’s long-term investments, his operation has little interest in a Democrat in its backyard.
The picture is not entirely tidy.
Musk’s allies have clashed in court with Paxton over open-records orders tied to Starbase, SpaceX’s home town. America PAC says its decisions are driven by politics, not business. And with Senate control at stake, national Republican strategy may matter as much as Texas business.
Either way, Texas voters will decide on Nov. 3 how far a trillionaire’s checkbook can go.
Sources:
- WFTV, “Talarico rallies as his Texas US Senate race against Paxton enters final weeks” — https://www.wftv.com/news/politics/talarico-rallies-his/ZA6VXJ3FAE6LPB3U7BARS6LFCQ/
- Newsweek, “Maps Show Where Ken Paxton and James Talarico’s Donations Come From” — https://www.newsweek.com/maps-show-where-ken-paxton-and-james-talaricos-donations-come-from-12488494
- Newsweek, “Paxton gets another $5 million boost as Talarico remains ahead in Texas” — https://www.newsweek.com/paxton-gets-another-5-million-boost-as-talarico-remains-ahead-in-texas-12465319
- The Daily Wire, “GOP goes on Texas spending blitz after convention” — https://www.dailywire.com/news/gop-goes-on-texas-spending-blitz-after-convention
- CNN (via KEYT), “Musk has started spending money to help Ken Paxton. Will it help change the course of the Texas Senate race?” — https://keyt.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/09/05/musk-has-started-spending-money-to-help-ken-paxton-will-it-help-change-the-course-of-the-texas-senate-race/
- The Texas Tribune (via San Antonio Current), reporting on America PAC’s Texas spending — https://www.sacurrent.com/?p=420775
- The Texas Tribune, “Elon Musk, Texas politics, legislature, laws, SpaceX, Tesla” — https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/02/elon-musk-texas-politics-legislature-laws-spacex-tesla
- Hoodline, “Abbott’s Texas War Chest Explodes as Musk and Jerry Jones Pile On” — https://hoodline.com/2026/07/abbott-s-texas-war-chest-explodes-as-musk-and-jerry-jones-pile-on/
- E&E News, “Oil, electric cash fuels Texas GOP campaigns” — https://www.eenews.net/articles/oil-electric-cash-fuels-texas-gop-campaigns/
- University of Houston Hobby School, “Letter from Texas: August 2026” — https://www.uh.edu/hobby/murrayletter/letteraugust26.pdf
- Campaign finance totals through Sept. 30 and the dates and amounts of Musk’s SLF, Texas PAC and Lone Star Liberty PAC transfers are as provided in the original source text; verify against FEC filings.
An extra address validation feature built into Texas’ state web portal triggered a software error that halted thousands of voter registration updates, officials confirmed Thursday.
Between September 1 and mid-October, state residents updating their name or address on texas.gov faced processing delays, leaving county election offices scrambling. Initial estimates indicate at least 5,200 applications were delayed across Bexar, Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties.
- Bexar County: ~3,000
- Travis County: ~1,100
- Williamson County: ~700
- Hays County: ~400
Emergency responders recovered a body from Lady Bird Lake near the Longhorn Dam early Friday morning after witnesses spotted a figure in the water. According to the Austin Police Department, officers were dispatched for a welfare check at 12:12 a.m. following reports of a body floating near the Wishbone Bridge pedestrian trail.
Police said the death is not being investigated as a homicide.
Austin ISD police have charged the former band director at LBJ Early College High School with having an improper relationship with a student. That same student was already the victim of another staff member, who was previously arrested and charged, according to court documents.
Thousands more Texas educators are being reported for misconduct, but just how much of the surge is justice being served—and how much could overwhelm the system? (Houston Chronicle)
Meanwhile, the fate of a parent-led petition to close two Austin ISD middle schools is now in the hands of the district.
Mayor Kirk Watson:
“The Webb and Burnet parents have spoken. They’ve been put in a painful and difficult position. They see, feel, and live with past failures, including with accountability and trust. The results of this petition effort, by itself, will not fix that. But it gives parents and their children an opportunity to have a say in what kind of future they want and deserve. I have confidence in Superintendent Matias Segura to hear these parents and act positively.”
Following the September 20th shooting of Venezuelan food delivery driver Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez by an ICE agent in North Austin, federal investigators have withheld critical evidence from local authorities, triggering a standoff between local and federal investigators. (Austin American-Statesman)
ICE activity was reported Friday morning in North Austin at Northcape Drive near Rundberg.
Residents near Metro Drive and US 183 in Leander should prepare for increased emergency activity tomorrow as local first responders conduct a major simulated emergency exercise.
The joint training operation, running from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., will involve the Leander Fire and Police Departments alongside crews from Liberty Hill, Cedar Park, and CapMetro.
The drill will feature active train operations and a realistic emergency response simulation to test regional coordination and readiness.
WEATHER
FRIDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Federal authorities were searching for a suspect who’s been dead for nearly a decade when an ICE agent ran over a Houston man last week during a pursuit, the immigrant advocacy group FIEL said Friday. (Houston Chronicle)
With just over two weeks until Election Day, Democrats appear to have an advantage in the race for the House, but veteran pollster Scott Rasmussen said a small polling error and strong Republican turnout could change the outcome.
Candidates and campaigns in Texas are launching into a final sprint before start of early voting in Texas.
Democratic nominee for Governor Gina Hinojosa tells us why she thinks Governor Greg Abbott is “scared” and she addresses some recent Republican attacks on her record.
And we highlight the race for Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court between Republican Jimmy Blacklock, who is hoping voters elect him to the position after being appointed by the Governor, and Maggie Ellis, who is hoping to become the state’s first ever female Chief Justice.
On this episode of Texas Take, host Jeremy Wallace examines the desperation gripping Texas Republicans as Election Day approaches. Houston Chronicle opinion editor Evan Mintz joins the show to discuss the bizarre conspiracy theory targeting James Talarico, while Jeremy breaks down the one county in South Texas that could still save Ken Paxton’s political career.
Plus, Jeremy catches up with House Speaker Mike Johnson who made a mad dash into the Rio Grande Valley where he says his job – and Donald Trump’s final two years in office – hinges on protecting the most endangered Republican member of Congress in the Lone Star State.
Finally, they’ll get into why Vice President JD Vance’s stop in Tyler is a giant flashing red warning sign for the GOP faithful.
(Episode from October 16, 2026)
In this week’s episode of Party Politics, co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina examine a series of national controversies, including an ICE raid at Representative Ilhan Omar’s home, the scandal surrounding U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle’s reported firing, and President Donald Trump’s executive order on diesel.
The conversation turns to Texas, where the hosts discuss the growing voter enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans heading into the midterm elections. They also examine Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s appearance in Dubai with a controversial donor and consider how Paxton’s actions could affect Republican voters and the Texas GOP.
(Episode from October 16, 2026)
Richie is back in town in time for the guys to recap the week of campaign stunts, debate ratf***ing, and the absurdity of an election’s home stretch.
With Gov. Abbott going full bore against Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa – accusing her of supporting a state income tax – you’ve got to hear Harvey Kronberg’s explanation of the real history of that third rail issue in Texas politics.
Meantime top Texas Democrats are debating random strangers because their Republican opponents won’t show up and Tony Ortiz at Current Revolt joins us for the story under the story of these fake rumors about Rep. Talarico in a mental health facility in Ohio.
Plus, our friend Chris Tritico is about to debut a documentary on the dismantling of Texas public schools. “The Long Game” premieres at 7 p.m. Monday, October 19, at MATCH in Houston, with additional screenings planned across Texas.
(Episode from October 16, 2026)
New World screwworm cases in the United States have reached 56 since June, following three recent detections in Texas and New Mexico.
The latest cases were confirmed Thursday, Oct. 15, in a horse and calf in Grant County, New Mexico. Another case was confirmed Oct. 10 in cattle in Pecos County, Texas.
Texas accounts for 52 confirmed animal cases, while four have been reported in New Mexico. (Texas Public Radio)
Beef prices continue to climb, but Texas ranchers say rising fuel costs and drought conditions are cutting into their profits.
SPORTS
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Looking to shake off a tough Red River Rivalry loss and steady their SEC campaign, the Texas Longhorns return to the friendly confines of Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium today to host the Florida Gators in a high-stakes 11:00 a.m. matchup.
For Steve Sarkisian’s squad, today’s contest is about resetting the narrative. After dropping a tight battle in Dallas last week, Texas aims to re-establish its physical identity upfront, lean on dynamic playmaker Arch Manning, and deliver a statement bounce-back performance in front of a packed home crowd. With a relentless SEC slate ahead—including a showdown with Ole Miss next week—the Longhorns know there is no room for error as they look to protect home turf and capture a critical conference victory.
TEXAS A&M / TEXAS TECH / HOUSTON
NBA: The San Antonio Spurs wrapped up their preseason schedule on a high note last night, while the Dallas Mavericks tumbled down the stretch in their final exhibition before the regular season begins. San Antonio secured a tune-up victory to head into opening week with positive momentum, whereas Dallas suffered a closing defeat, leaving the Mavericks with key rotation questions to solve before the real games start.
The regular season openers for Texas’ three NBA teams:
- San Antonio Spurs: Tuesday, October 20, 2026 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio (8:30 PM CDT).
- Houston Rockets: Wednesday, October 21, 2026 vs. Dallas Mavericks at Toyota Center in Houston (7:30 PM CDT).
- Dallas Mavericks: Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at Houston Rockets at Toyota Center in Houston (7:30 PM CDT).
MLS: Austin FC aims to make it five consecutive wins against Cascadian opposition tonight when the Verde & Black welcome Vancouver Whitecaps FC to Q2 Stadium. The match is set for a 7:30 p.m. CT kickoff. (Austin FC)
Austin FC leadership has opened a dialogue with organized supporter groups following widespread fan backlash and stadium walkouts triggered by the ejection of a supporter from Q2 Stadium for wearing an “Abolish ICE” shirt.
The meeting follows an incident during a home match on Hispanic Heritage Night, where fan Daniela Silva was removed from the venue and issued a one-year criminal trespass notice after declining to cover her anti-ICE shirt.
Major supporter groups, including Los Verdes, La Murga de Austin, and Austin Anthem, issued statements condemning the decision, leading to silent protests and supporter walkouts.
While the club noted that the trespass order was issued by city police and offered to assist in lifting it, team executives met with supporter leaders to review stadium political speech enforcement, venue safety policies, and fan expression protocols within Major League Soccer guidelines.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
FINAL SCORES
- Lake Travis 47, Stony Point 0
- Westlake 70, McNeil 6
- Austin 57, Del Valle 0
- Dripping Springs 56, Bowie 14
- Hutto 54, Leander 0
- Boerne 49, Liberty Hill 7
- Legacy Ranch 15, New Braunfels 9
- Cedar Park 23, Vandegrift 10
- Round Rock 49, Westwood 21
- Weiss 28, Georgetown 21
- Bastrop 30, Pflugerville 25
- Wimberley 77, Achieve 0
- Thorndale 42, Granger 6
- Johnson 95, Akins 0
- Fredericksburg 36, Davenport 31
- Tivy 49, Travis 13
- Taylor 30, LBJ 19
- Smithson Valley 89, Lockhart 3
- Lehman 34, Manor 14
NHL: Central Division sparks fly tonight in Chicago as the Dallas Stars march into the United Center looking to claim a crucial road win against the Blackhawks.
Led Zeppelin frontman, Robert Plant, tells Dan Rather about his time living in Austin, Texas. He compares it to living in England and explains the differences he experienced between the two places.
