U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is sounding the alarm over Elon Musk’s spending in the 2026 midterm elections, saying the billionaire is using his fortune to keep Republicans in control of Congress.
“Elon Musk spent $290 million to elect Trump. It paid off,” Sanders wrote on social media. “Since his election, Musk got $696 billion richer & became the world’s 1st trillionaire.”
Sanders added: “But that’s not enough. Now, Musk is spending $366 million to keep Republicans in control of Congress. STOP MUSK. STOP OLIGARCHY.”
Elon Musk spent $290 million to elect Trump. It paid off.
Since his election, Musk got $696 billion richer & became the world’s 1st trillionaire.
But that’s not enough.
Now, Musk is spending $366 million to keep Republicans in control of Congress.
STOP MUSK. STOP OLIGARCHY.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) October 12, 2026
Musk has spent approximately $366 million during the current election cycle, including $276 million since July, according to Reuters. Campaign-finance records indicate that Musk is likely the largest individual donor in this year’s congressional elections.
Of the $276 million spent since July, Musk gave $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, the main super PAC working to elect Republican senators. The Associated Press described it as one of the largest known political donations in American history.
Another $76 million went to America PAC, the organization Musk created to help elect Trump in 2024. America PAC is again organizing a large door-knocking and voter-turnout operation.
Musk also donated $20 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund, which supports Republican House candidates, the Financial Times reported.
The billionaire gave another $10 million to the Lone Star Liberty PAC, which supports Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton, and $10 million to the Republican Governors Association.
America PAC spokesman Andrew Romeo said Musk’s money is giving Republicans “a fighting chance” in an election year when the President’s party would ordinarily be expected to lose congressional seats.
“If Democrats take control of Washington and win key gubernatorial and attorney general races this November, then America risks becoming a socialist, woke and borderless country,” Romeo said.
He added: “These robust investments have allowed the GOP apparatus to get its message out so Republicans can have a fighting chance to defy history.”
Musk’s spending comes after he said in May 2025 that he planned to pull back from political donations.
“I think I’ve done enough,” Musk said at the time.
Instead, Musk has now spent more during the current election cycle than the approximately $290 million he put behind Trump and other Republicans in 2024.
Musk led the Department of Government Efficiency at the beginning of Trump’s second term but left the administration after publicly clashing with the President. The two later reconciled, and Trump presented Musk with the National Medal of Science last week.
Democrats say the Republican Party is using its substantial financial advantage to overwhelm competitive races with advertising.
“Republicans are hoping to buy these elections, injecting tens of millions into races to try and outrun their unpopular candidates, unpopular president, and unpopular economy,” Senate Majority PAC spokeswoman Lauren French told the AP.