Sanders Accuses Musk of Planning to Spend $200 Million to 'Buy' Texas Senate Seat

On Friday, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's plan to "spend up to $200 million to purchase a Texas Senate seat."

Sanders Calls for Ending Citizens United and Banning Super PACs

In a post on X, Sanders stated that Musk spent $290 million to help President Trump win re-election and now wants to buy a Texas Senate seat and "keep Republican control of Congress."

He called the latest spending plan "not democracy" but "oligarchy," and reiterated his call to end Citizens United and ban super PACs.

He also said: "Keep billionaires—from both parties—out of our elections."

Elon Musk spent $290 million to elect Trump. Now he wants to spend up to $200 million to buy a Texas Senate seat and keep Republican control of Congress.

That is not democracy. That is oligarchy.

End Citizens United. Ban super PACs. Keep billionaires—from both parties—out of our elections.

— Bernie Sanders August 21, 2026

Sanders' latest criticism follows reports that Musk is expected to spend between $100 million and $200 million on voter mobilization through his America PAC in key elections.

This could include support for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, who is far behind his Democratic opponent James Talarico in fundraising.

This is not the first time Sanders has singled out Musk's political spending. In late July, Sanders posted that Musk's investment in Trump's election had paid off, increasing his wealth by $438 billion.

Elon Musk spent $290 million to elect Trump.

His investment worked. He is now $438 billion richer.

Now, he wants to keep Republican control by spending $100 million to buy Congress.

We must fight oligarchy. Beat Musk. Defend democracy.

— Bernie Sanders July 31, 2026

Musk's Personal Interests in Texas

Musk has closely tied his business empire and personal life to Texas. He has moved the headquarters of his major companies—Tesla, SpaceX, and X—to the state.

He has also built large manufacturing facilities and developed employee housing projects, including Snail Creek near Austin. Musk has also moved his personal operating base to the Austin area.

Feud Tracks Fluctuations in Musk's Wealth

Sanders' criticism of the Tesla CEO has intensified alongside major changes in the billionaire's wealth.

Musk became the world's first trillionaire on June 12 following SpaceX's initial public offering. That same day, Sanders wrote on X that Musk "pays the same amount in Social Security taxes as someone earning $184,500 a year" and called the situation "absurd."

Today, trillionaire Elon Musk pays the same in Social Security taxes as someone earning $184,500 a year.

If we end this absurdity and eliminate the taxable income cap, we can keep Social Security solvent for 75 years and increase benefits by $2,400. My Social Security Act does exactly that.

— Senator Bernie Sanders June 12, 2026

Texas Is Not Musk's Only Senate Bet

The Texas spending plan follows Musk's $10 million donation earlier this year to the "Fight for Kentucky" super PAC, which supports Republican Senate candidate Nate Morris.

Musk's targeted voter mobilization spending reportedly covers multiple states beyond Texas, including Maine, Ohio, Alaska, and Iowa, with final allocations still subject to change.

The two public figures have also clashed on various other topics outside politics, and the feud has not been one-sided.

In December, Musk called himself a "creator" on X while describing Sanders and others as "consumers," after Sanders questioned how Musk's artificial intelligence and robotics ventures would benefit working-class people.