Musk Pumps $7 Million Into Ohio to Boost Jon Husted Amid GOP Turnout Fears
Recent estimates have put Musk's total pro-GOP contributions at nearly $300 million since the beginning of July.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has poured $7.9 million into the Ohio Senate race to support incumbent Republican Jon Husted, in an effort to ensure the GOP maintains control of the chamber after the midterms. This financial backing comes from Musk's super PAC, which has allocated the money to outside groups rather than directly to Husted's campaign.
The Ohio Senate race is a critical one, as Democrats must defend all their seats and flip four GOP-held seats to gain control of the chamber. Husted is facing off against Democrat and former Senator Sherrod Brown. This race is one of seven rated as "toss-up" by the Cook Political Report.
Musk's support for the GOP comes as Ohio Republicans are worried about the potential impact of low voter turnout on their chances of victory, according to a New York Times report. Since the start of the year, Musk has spent over $55 million supporting Republican candidates, including $24 million to help Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in Texas.
Musk's contributions have significantly boosted Republican ad spending in key Senate races. As of the third quarter, the Senate Leadership Fund, the GOP Senate leadership's primary super PAC, received $158 million from Musk alone, far surpassing the $24 million raised by the Democratic counterpart, the Senate Majority PAC.
Sherrod Brown, Husted's Democratic opponent, is significantly outraising Husted, having reported $23.1 million in direct contributions in July, August, and September compared to Husted's $4.8 million. Despite not matching Husted's funding, Brown has benefited from outside group spending, with the Democratic PAC Defend the Vote contributing $7 million to run ads attacking Husted's record on data centers.
Polls show the race as a tight contest, with Brown leading in most recent surveys. However, Democrats are hoping to capitalize on President Donald Trump's low approval ratings in Ohio, as he won the state in all three of his presidential races, including by 11 points in 2024. Republicans hope to improve their chances by relying on higher turnout among groups like older voters, who have been historically underrepresented in polling.
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