Not even $200 million could help Elon Musk buy Texas

<figure> <img alt="Elon Musk with money." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/STKE012_SPACEX_IPO_2026_A.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">James Talarico, the Democratic Texas senator-elect, not only managed to flip the state in yesterday's midterms but prevailed in the most expensive Senate election to date. More than $573 million was spent on advertisements between Talarico, his Republican opponent Ken Paxton, and their aligned PACs. And a big chunk of that money came from just one man: Elon Musk.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Musk reportedly spent more than $445 million supporting Republicans in the midterms, making him <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/11/elon-musks-445m-spending-spree-tops-2026-midterm-donor-rankings/">not only by far the biggest donor</a> in the 2026 election cycle but also in American history. And most of his money was spent in Texas, his home state and the headquarters of both Tesla and …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/1026329/elon-musk-paxton-talarico-texas-election-funding">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>