Friday, October 25, 2024

The OpenSecrets Donor Newsletter: A major political investment by the wealthiest person in the world

OCTOBER 25, 2024

This week we launched our updated brand identity and a streamlined website designed to help you uncover data and utilize our resources more effectively. If you haven’t explored our new website, I encourage you to do so!

Also, check out our newly released article looking into Elon Musk’s investment in former president Donald Trump’s re-election campaign.

Warm regards,

Hilary Braseth

Executive Director

Musk is placing a high bet on the presidential election

Elon Musk has poured over $118 million into America PAC, a super PAC focused on Trump’s reelection and mobilizing voters in crucial swing states that Musk launched earlier this year.

OpenSecrets is excited to announce the launch of its fresh new brand identity and a streamlined website experience designed to make exploring the world of political finances more intuitive and accessible.

Chart of the week

Dive deeper into the data behind the headline

What To Know

Billioanire Elon Musk is leveraging his influential platform and brands this election season to throw his weight behind former President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential bid.

Musk has poured over $118 million into America PAC, a super PAC focused on Trump’s reelection and mobilizing voters in crucial swing states that Musk launched earlier this year.

By The Numbers

Musk did not start making 2024 federal political contributions until this summer but quickly ramped up giving during the final months of the election. In less than two weeks from Oct. 4 to Oct. 15, Musk steered $43.6 million to America PAC, OpenSecrets analysis of its latest filing submitted Oct. 24 found.

Dig Deeper

OpenSecrets’ analysis places Musk among the most influential figures set to impact the razor-thin 2024 presidential and congressional races.

Musk’s major companies, Tesla and SpaceX, are no strangers to political influence, ranking in the top 10% of organizations tracked by OpenSecrets for lobbying and political contributions from their affiliates.

See our media citations from outlets around the nation this week:

As Trump claims U.K. Labour Party election meddling, CBS News investigates foreign agent campaign donations (CBS News)

Over $33.5 million in individual political contributions came from registered foreign agents and lobbyists during the 2020 election cycle, according to analysis conducted by the OpenSecrets organization.

Crypto bets big on Republicans in congressional races (Axios)

Protect Progress, the Fairshake-affiliated PAC for Democrats, is supporting two competitive Democratic Senate candidates this cycle —Rep. Ruben Gallego in Arizona and Rep. Elisa Slotkin in Michigan. It has also contributed to 15 House candidates, according to OpenSecrets.