Elon Musk has become as much of a political liability as an asset for Republicans as his full-time role at the White House winds down and midterm chatter ramps up.
While Musk brings with him loads of cash and online clout that could be tempting for GOP candidates on the campaign trail, strategists and Democratic lawmakers are banking on his contentious status bringing new risks 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,” said Democratic strategist Basil Smikle, referring to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“Democrats will continue to remind voters of that history,” he added
Should Musk prove an active presence on the campaign trail as Republicans attempt to defend their House and Senate majorities, political observers predict he will be in a drastically different ecosystem than last July when he endorsed President Trump’s reelection campaign.
Musk’s political evolution
Musk’s endorsement of Trump was a major shift for the tech billionaire, who previously vowed to stay out of politics. He poured more than $250 million into Trump’s reelection, appeared at multiple campaign stops and repeatedly touted GOP candidates up and down the ballot on X, the social media platform he purchased in 2022.
In the weeks leading up to and after the election, Musk’s digital presence and status as the world’s richest person made him an appealing figure to have in the GOP’s corner.
“He’s proven himself to be loyal to the GOP, not just to Trump,” GOP strategist Chris Johnson told The Hill.
Musk publicly said earlier this year his America PAC will be involved in the midterms, though it is not clear exactly what races it will back, or the extent to which Musk will be on the trail. America PAC declined to comment.
But his increased adoration from the right came with mounting scrutiny from the public over his role in the White House and push to shrink the government.
DOGE and its baggage
Under Musk’s leadership, DOGE has carried out mass layoffs at federal agencies, dismantled various government programs and gained access to Americans’ sensitive information.
Challenges to DOGE’s moves were quickly filed in courts while demonstrations unfolded across the country, protesting DOGE’s work and Musk’s role in the effort. Some took out their frustrations at Musk’s Tesla showrooms and dealerships.
Musk’s potential conflicts of interest are also a point of contention, as his companies, such as Tesla and SpaceX, continue to receive billions of dollars in federal subsidies and contracts with the same agencies subjected to DOGE cuts.
And even before Musk joined the White House, he faced criticism for his far-right commentary, often shared on X, which included endorsements of far-right political parties in Europe and misinformation about immigration.
“His name is now toxic,” Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) told 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.”
Multiple Democrats backed up their argument by pointing to the Wisconsin Supreme Court race last month, during which liberal candidate Susan Crawford defeated conservative Brad Schimel.
Both Musk and Trump endorsed Schimel for an open seat on the state’s highest court, while Musk’s America PAC spent more than $12 million on the race.
“He doesn’t always prevail,” Balint said.
Democrats plot their message
Democrats have struggled to find a unifying message since their losses in the 2024 election, but Musk has presented an “opportunity” for the party 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 said.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), whose district includes Silicon Valley, offered 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 said.
During a markup of the tax provisions of the Trump policy bill Tuesday, Democratic lawmakers invoked Musk frequently when denouncing GOP plans to extend 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,” said 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 several major tech companies.
Democrats hope this message could make a difference for moderate or swing state GOP candidates, some of whom are already facing heat from voters over DOGE and Musk’s role at the White House.
“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 said, “is the anger that he [Musk] elicits from voters who have been affected by his cuts at DOGE.”
House Republicans have faced hostile crowds at town halls in their districts, and Democrats are signaling it’s a sign of what’s to come on the campaign trail.
“If I were in some of these tougher districts for Republicans to win and more competitive districts going into the midterms … I would take his money, but I wouldn’t want him to be the face of it necessarily,” Democratic strategist Kristen Hawn told The Hill.
Trump accused the critics in town halls of being “paid troublemakers” and a “part of the game for Democrats.”
Musk is expected to soon spend more time at his tech companies, especially Tesla, which has faced financial headwinds this year amid the DOGE criticism. As his time winds down on DOGE, strategists predict his physical presence on the trail could decrease as well.
Even if some Republicans try to distance themselves from Musk as 2026 nears, strategists emphasize candidates have no control over whether his super PAC pours cash into a race.
Super 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 said. “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 concerns
Nonetheless, most Republicans are shrugging off concerns Musk could be a liability for some candidates.
Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) said he thinks Musk is an “asset wherever he goes.”
Obernolte is one of several House Republicans to face blowback from district voters over DOGE. In February, the California Republican was booed off stage and called a “liar” at an event in Yucca Valley.
When asked whether the DOGE backlash could prove troublesome for candidates, Obernolte told 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 said. “Politically, I think that it’s still a winning message.”
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) said the backlash is “worth it” for the work DOGE accomplished.
“Democrats are just mad they lost. They have no strategy, no agenda, no plan,” he told 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’ targeting of Musk’s public persona will not be successful and the DOGE blowback will not play a major role in many 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 said. “Political memory is very, very short, and that [2026] is a long time away.”
Julia Manchester contributed reporting.
