Democrats vow to probe Musk after Texas losses
The billionaire spent over $445 million on the midterms, but his Texas-backed candidates lost as Democrats gained congressional control.
By Kevin Iyer ·
Elon Musk lost the Texas Senate race despite spending more than $200 million on the state’s election, a defeat that places him under immediate scrutiny from the newly empowered Democratic majority in Congress. The billionaire, who controls Tesla and SpaceX, faces potential investigations into his government contracts and his role in the Department of Government Efficiency.
Federal election filings show Musk donated more than $445 million to Republican candidates, political action committees, and outside groups. This total makes him the top donor in the 2026 midterms and one of the largest political contributors in U.S. history. OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks campaign spending, analyzed the data to determine his total contributions.
Democratic lawmakers say their central question is whether Musk used his administration position to benefit his private businesses. They want to know if taxpayer money, government data, and public institutions were put at risk during his tenure. The group controlling the House and Senate will likely lead these inquiries.
According to the Democracy Defenders Fund, a legal advocacy nonprofit, Musk received at least $6.3 billion in government contracts during the four months he led the Department of Government Efficiency. Since leaving that role, his companies have secured at least another $10 billion in federal contracts.
Representative James Walkinshaw, a Democrat from Virginia, wrote on X that the "DOGE chickens are coming home to roost." He accused Musk of firing public services and lying about savings, stating that the billionaire must answer for his actions under oath.
Musk’s foreign dealings are also drawing attention. Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, posted on X that Musk’s links to Russian President Vladimir Putin are another reason to subpoena him. Representative Mike Levin of California noted that Musk restricted Ukraine’s use of Starlink satellite internet days after the U.S. eased sanctions on Russia and began purchasing Russian diesel in October. Levin argued that Musk disrupted an American ally’s military operations without facing accountability.
Richard Painter, the former chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, said Musk was a part-time special government employee while leading the Department of Government Efficiency. Painter stated that federal law prohibited such personnel from participating in official matters affecting their personal financial interests. He noted that if Musk touched matters he knew would impact SpaceX, he would have committed a crime, given the company’s large contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense.
Texas became the center of Musk’s political spending, with at least $225 million directed to the state. He backed Republican Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate and Governor Greg Abbott for reelection. Both candidates lost, as Democrats captured every statewide office in Texas. James Talarico, who defeated Paxton, said in his victory speech that the state sent a message to billionaire mega-donors, declaring that power belongs to the people.
