Elon Musk is flying under the radar in the Texas Senate race. Republicans want to keep it that way.

The last time Elon Musk sank money into an election, he played a starring role in the 2025 state Supreme Court race in Wisconsin. He donned an oversized cheese hat, offered $1 million checks to voters, and he and affiliated groups poured at least $20 million into the contest.

In the end, the conservative candidate lost by 10 points in what was widely viewed as a rebuke of Musk and the Trump administration.

Now, the richest man in the world is back boosting Republican candidates in critical midterm elections, including a bruising Senate race in Texas where Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing Democrat James Talarico, who had initially far outraised him and remains close in polling.

But that financial tide is quickly turning — with Musk’s help.

Unlike in Wisconsin, Musk has so far stayed out of the spotlight in Texas, even though he lives in the state, has based his companies Tesla and SpaceX there, and employs about 20,000 people. He hasn’t announced plans for any in-person events, or teased — as he did in Wisconsin — that he’d be handing out $1 million checks to voters.

Privately, Republicans say they want Musk to keep his distance.

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/