A super PAC created by tech tycoon Elon Musk is shelling out major dough in favor of Republican candidates running in tight House races across the country — including in Southern California.
America PAC is spending six figures in canvassing and field operations in California’s 45th congressional district, according to an expenditure report filed with the Federal Election Commission on Monday, Sept. 16, where Republican Rep. Michelle Steel is facing Democrat Derek Tran, an attorney.
Musk’s PAC reported spending $221,875 in support of Steel and an equal amount going negative on Tran.
The closely watched race in the 45th may be instrumental in deciding which party picks up the speaker’s gavel next year. It’s one where election forecasts have begun to swing toward being more favorable for Democrats.
In early September, election analyst Cook Political Report changed its rating of the race from “lean Republican” to “Republican toss up,” and Inside Elections, a newsletter that provides campaign analysis, also recently changed its rating of the race from “lean Republican” to “tilt Republican.”
CA-45 is a majority-minority district that includes Vietnamese-heavy neighborhoods in Garden Grove, Fountain Valley and Westminster. The district also picks up Cerritos and Artesia in Los Angeles County, both where Asian residents make up the largest racial group.
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Overall, America PAC reported spending in 14 House races all in favor of the Republican candidate. The PAC, funded by wealthy investors, including Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, Shaun Maguire and Douglas Leone, has already spent millions of dollars to elevate former President Donald Trump in his bid for another term in the White House, per FEC data.
In California, Steel’s campaign received the second-highest amount of money from America PAC. Musk’s PAC shelled out $264,825 in support of Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, and an equal amount in opposition to Democrat Will Rollins in the 41st congressional district in the Inland Empire.
As of June 30 (the latest fundraising deadline), Steel outpaces Tran by $1.5 million in cash-on-hand totals — the total amount of money immediately available to a candidate. She has $3.7 million cash on hand, accounting for around $1.1 million in debts and loans, to Tran’s $1.2 million.
The only other California race the PAC reported contributing to is the contest in the 22nd district in the Central Valley, where Republican Rep. David Valadao faces Democrat Rudy Salas.
California’s 47th congressional district, where Republican Scott Baugh faces Democratic state Sen. Dave Min, did not see money from Musk’s PAC, per the FEC report. But it’s a race that is also being closely watched. On Tuesday, a coalition of labor and environmental groups announced a nearly $2 million campaign to boost Min, the money earmarked for outreach to Asian American, Pacific Islander and Latino voters via multi-language digital, mail and phone campaigning.
Election analyst Cook Political Report rates the race as “lean Democrat,” and Inside Elections pegs it as “tilt Democratic.”