Musk dumps $158 million into Texas Senate race as Trump fears losing deep-red state to Democrat

Elon Musk poured $158 million into Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton's Texas campaign after a string of polls showed Paxton trailing Democratic state representative James Talarico in a race that has rattled Trump. Federal Election Commission filings show Musk made two donations — $75 million and $83 million — to the Senate Leadership Fund in September, money immediately routed to Texas PAC backing Paxton. A fresh InsiderAdvantage poll now puts Paxton one point ahead of Talarico, though still within the margin of error.

Texas has not elected a Democrat to statewide office since 1994, making Talarico's surge one of the most alarming results in the Senate map for Republicans.

Trump has campaigned in Texas three times in a month and vowed to return, blasting 'weak and ineffective political hacks' — including GOP insider Karl Rove — for undermining Paxton's bid.

Talarico told a packed rally his supporters are his 'slingshot' against a '$158 million Goliath', and his campaign has out-raised Paxton directly despite the outside-money flood.