Oct 7, 2024 - Politics & Policy
Johnson's cash lifeline
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Elon Musk has quietly given Mike Johnson's House Republicans a critical 11th-hour cash infusion.
Why it matters: Johnson's main super PAC is being heavily outspent by its Democratic counterpart in key districts.
- The GOP's Congressional Leadership Fund has put nearly $140 million into ads in competitive districts through the end of the year, compared to almost $180 million for House Majority PAC, according to AdImpact.
By the numbers: Musk's America PAC has spent more than $8 million since mid-September to make up that $40 million gap, according to FEC filings.
- The cash, spread out over 18 districts, makes Musk's PAC one of the biggest national spenders in 2024 congressional races.
That's on top of $55 million he has poured into supporting Donald Trump.
- Musk appeared at a Trump rally Saturday and declared himself "dark MAGA."
Zoom in: America PAC's beneficiaries range from centrist Reps. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) to Joe Kent, a hard-right U.S. Army veteran running against Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.).
- Among top recipients are Lawler, Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) and Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) ā whose districts fall in the expensive New York City and Los Angeles media markets.
- All districts the PAC has put money into are considered highly competitive.
ā Andrew Solender
