Democrats beg Elon Musk: Campaign for our GOP opponents
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Elon Musk speaks at an America PAC town hall in Green Bay, Wis., last weekend. Photo: Jamie Kelter Davis/Bloomberg via Getty Images
House Democrats are making an unusual plea to billionaire Trump lieutenant Elon Musk: Come campaign for our Republican opponents next year.
Why it matters: Democrats see the Republican-aligned candidate's wipeout in Tuesday's Wisconsin Supreme Court election as a clear signal that Musk has become electoral poison for the GOP.
- Musk invested heavily in the Wisconsin race, traveling to the state on behalf of conservative Brad Schimel and doling out millions of dollars on ads and direct giveaways to voters.
- Reacting to liberal Susan Crawford's 10-point win, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said: "Elon Musk was just rejected decisively."
What they're saying: Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), asked if he wants Musk to campaign for his congressional neighbor and bitter enemy Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), told Axios, "I'll pay for his coach flight."
- Battleground-district Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.) said of Musk coming to her district: "Yes please! Can you arrange that? Who do I speak to about that?"
- Another vulnerable House Democrat told Axios they would welcome Musk because he is "very unpopular" in their district and "the federal workers he fired would like a word with him."
By the numbers: Musk and his political action committee, America PAC, spent more than $20 million on the court race, with Musk even handing out $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters.
- It wasn't Musk's first foray into electoral politics: He spent heavily to support both Trump and Republican congressional candidates last year.
- His record was less than stellar: More than half of the 10 top recipients of America PAC money lost their races.
State of play: Even before the results in Wisconsin, the White House began putting out signals that Musk is on his way out as the head of DOGE.
- President Trump told reporters on Monday: "He's got a big company to run ... At some point he's going to be going back. He wants to."
- Politico reported Wednesday that Trump told his inner circle that Musk would step back in the coming weeks, but the White House and Musk pushed back on the story.
Yes, but: Democrats are signaling they're prepared to center at least part of their 2026 narrative around Musk, with or without him formally being part of Trump's administration.
- "Don't be fooled by an attempt to distance themselves from Musk — they will still take his money and follow his lead," said Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio).
- Musk plans to remain deeply involved in boosting Republican candidates despite his failure in Wisconsin, the Washington Post reported.
The bottom line: House Majority PAC spokesperson CJ Warnke said the Democratic group "greatly encourages one of the most unpopular men in America to campaign with Republicans across the country."
- "His efforts will be crucial to Democrats taking back the House in 2026."
