Elon Musk has change into as a lot of a political legal responsibility as an asset for Republicans as his full-time function on the White Home winds down and midterm chatter ramps up.  

Whereas Musk brings with him a great deal of money and on-line clout that might be tempting for GOP candidates on the marketing campaign path, strategists and Democratic lawmakers are banking on his contentious standing bringing new dangers to 2026 congressional races.  

“No matter how much time passes between now and the midterm elections, even if Elon Musk were to separate himself from DOGE tomorrow, it would be really difficult for voters to not remember the impacts,” mentioned Democratic strategist Basil Smikle, referring to the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE).  

“Democrats will continue to remind voters of that history,” he added 

Ought to Musk show an energetic presence on the marketing campaign path as Republicans try to defend their Home and Senate majorities, political observers predict he will probably be in a drastically totally different ecosystem than final July when he endorsed President Trump’s reelection marketing campaign. 

Musk’s political evolution

Musk’s endorsement of Trump was a significant shift for the tech billionaire, who beforehand vowed to remain out of politics. He poured greater than $250 million into Trump’s reelection, appeared at a number of marketing campaign stops and repeatedly touted GOP candidates up and down the poll on X, the social media platform he bought in 2022.  

Within the weeks main as much as and after the election, Musk’s digital presence and standing because the world’s richest particular person made him an interesting determine to have within the GOP’s nook.   

“He’s proven himself to be loyal to the GOP, not just to Trump,” GOP strategist Chris Johnson advised The Hill.  

Musk publicly mentioned earlier this 12 months his America PAC will probably be concerned within the midterms, although it’s not clear precisely what races it should again, or the extent to which Musk will probably be on the path. America PAC declined to remark. 

However his elevated adoration from the precise got here with mounting scrutiny from the general public over his function within the White Home and push to shrink the federal government. 

DOGE and its baggage

Underneath Musk’s management, DOGE has carried out mass layoffs at federal businesses, dismantled varied authorities applications and gained entry to Individuals’ delicate data.  

Challenges to DOGE’s strikes have been shortly filed in courts whereas demonstrations unfolded throughout the nation, protesting DOGE’s work and Musk’s function within the effort. Some took out their frustrations at Musk’s Tesla showrooms and dealerships.  

Musk’s potential conflicts of curiosity are additionally a degree of rivalry, as his firms, reminiscent of Tesla and SpaceX, proceed to obtain billions of {dollars} in federal subsidies and contracts with the identical businesses subjected to DOGE cuts.  

And even earlier than Musk joined the White Home, he confronted criticism for his far-right commentary, typically shared on X, which included endorsements of far-right political events in Europe and misinformation about immigration.  

“His name is now toxic,” Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) advised The Hill. “We hear that across the political spectrum, except for a small group of Republicans who are still continuing to defend DOGE, but they know their constituents do not like that.” 

A number of Democrats backed up their argument by pointing to the Wisconsin Supreme Court docket race final month, throughout which liberal candidate Susan Crawford defeated conservative Brad Schimel.  

Each Musk and Trump endorsed Schimel for an open seat on the state’s highest courtroom, whereas Musk’s America PAC spent greater than $12 million on the race.  

“He doesn’t always prevail,” Balint mentioned.  

Democrats plot their message

Democrats have struggled to discover a unifying message since their losses within the 2024 election, however Musk has offered an “opportunity” for the social gathering in 2026, the Vermont Democrat added.  

“We have to get better about pointing out that Musk has this power because our Republican colleagues do not check it. Trump does these things because our Republican colleagues do not check it,” Balint mentioned.  

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), whose district consists of Silicon Valley, provided a roadmap for Democratic messaging.  

“The focus is going to be on tax breaks for the billionaires, the shredding of the Constitution and taking away Medicaid from the voters,” Khanna mentioned. 

Throughout a markup of the tax provisions of the Trump coverage invoice Tuesday, Democratic lawmakers invoked Musk continuously when denouncing GOP plans to increase the president’s tax cuts.

“I don’t call that prioritizing the working class, wherever you came from, prioritizing the people who are out there providing the services that make America go,” mentioned Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas).

“I call it more trickle-down economics, that a little will come dribbling down to those who’re working hard out there, from Elon Musk and all the people that were on the front row behind the president at his inauguration,” he added, referring to the CEOs of a number of main tech firms.

Democrats hope this message might make a distinction for reasonable or swing state GOP candidates, a few of whom are already dealing with warmth from voters over DOGE and Musk’s function on the White Home.  

“The risk is that given how raucous … town halls have become over the last 100 days and considering the small margins that Republicans have in the House,” Smikle mentioned, “is the anger that he [Musk] elicits from voters who have been affected by his cuts at DOGE.” 

Home Republicans have confronted hostile crowds at city halls of their districts, and Democrats are signaling it’s an indication of what’s to come back on the marketing campaign path.  

“If I have been in a few of these harder districts for Republicans to win and extra aggressive districts going into the midterms … I’d take his cash, however I wouldn’t need him to be the face of it essentially,” Democratic strategist Kristen Hawn advised The Hill.  

Trump accused the critics on the town halls of being “paid troublemakers” and a “part of the game for Democrats.”  

Musk is predicted to quickly spend extra time at his tech firms, particularly Tesla, which has confronted monetary headwinds this 12 months amid the DOGE criticism. As his time winds down on DOGE, strategists predict his bodily presence on the path might lower as effectively.  

Even when some Republicans attempt to distance themselves from Musk as 2026 nears, strategists emphasize candidates don’t have any management over whether or not his tremendous PAC pours money right into a race.  

Tremendous PACs are legally prohibited from coordinating with political campaigns or candidates.  

“The question Elon needs to answer is what is more important — funding the initiatives he cares about or being part of that story?” Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau mentioned. “You could do one without the other, you can give money and keep your head down.” 

“But that doesn’t necessarily seem to be … the way he approaches these issues,” he added.  

Republicans shrug off issues

Nonetheless, most Republicans are shrugging off issues Musk might be a legal responsibility for some candidates.  

Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) mentioned he thinks Musk is an “asset wherever he goes.”  

Obernolte is one among a number of Home Republicans to face blowback from district voters over DOGE. In February, the California Republican was booed off stage and referred to as a “liar” at an occasion in Yucca Valley.   When requested whether or not the DOGE backlash might show troublesome for candidates, Obernolte advised The Hill, “I don’t think so.”  

“Conservatives got elected because they want to reform government and cut out the waste, fraud and abuse, and that’s what DOGE is all about,” he mentioned. “Politically, I think that it’s still a winning message.”  

Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) mentioned the backlash is “worth it” for the work DOGE achieved.  

“Democrats are just mad they lost. They have no strategy, no agenda, no plan,” he advised reporters. “Members of Congress need to be focused on getting our government on a sound footing, not getting scared because you have a handful of people protesting in town halls.”  

Johnson predicted Democrats’ focusing on of Musk’s public persona is not going to achieve success and the DOGE blowback is not going to play a significant function in lots of districts.  

“The gamble that folks are making on the Democratic side is that he’s [Musk] going to come off as rich or out of touch or weird or whatever. And I don’t see that as compelling,” he mentioned. “Political memory is very, very short, and that [2026] is a long time away.”  

Julia Manchester contributed reporting.