US midterms: Elon Musk fails $440 million bet as Republicans lose
The 2026 midterm elections were the most expensive on record, with nearly 12 billion dollars spent during the campaign. Tech tycoon Elon Musk was by far the largest individual donor ever, injecting over 440 million dollars of his money to support the GOP. Tuesday's resounding Democratic victory showed the limits of his money, power and influence.
Republican party grapples with loss of South Carolina Senate seat to Democrat Annie Andrews in an unexpected upset. South Carolina, historically a fireball red state, saw a Democrat elected to the Senate for the first time. The struggling Republican candidate, Darline Graham, was the sister of former Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
The loss may be attributed to a combination of factors, including lower-than-usual voter turnout, increased support for Democratic candidates among traditionally Republican groups, and Graham's perceived lack of competence and authenticity. The Democratic victory was primarily a rejection of Graham as a candidate, seen as a forced choice, rather than a broad ideological support for Democratic policies.
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