Elon Musk is pouring unprecedented sums into a key Kentucky Senate race as conservatives move to secure the seat long held by retiring Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell.
According to The Western Journal, Musk has committed a stunning $10 million to bolster Kentucky businessman Nate Morris, who is competing in the May Republican primary. The contribution marks the largest single donation the tech billionaire has ever made to a Senate candidate, signaling a new level of engagement in down-ballot races.
As reported by Western Journal, Axios indicated that Musk went all-in after meeting Morris, who is connected to him through a mutual ally, Vice President J.D. Vance. The report added that Musk is especially enthusiastic about backing a contender who openly brands himself as anti-McConnell, a stance that appeals to conservatives eager to move beyond the old GOP establishment.
Musks massive outlay is widely seen as a signal that he is prepared to spend aggressively to help Republicans defend and expand their fragile congressional majority. In 2024, Musk donated $300 million to various Republican efforts, according to Axios, with the bulk of that money directed toward President Donald Trumps election bid and the broader populist realignment within the party.
Although Musk and Trump were closely aligned during Trumps campaign and the early months of the Trump administration, the two had a very public falling-out in mid-2025. That rift appears to have eased after Vance, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich met with Musk in November, a conversation that reportedly helped reset the relationship.
Morris has positioned himself firmly on the conservative side of the primary field, backing a strong crackdown on illegal immigration and aligning with grassroots activists. He had the support of conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk before Kirk was killed in September, a loss still felt across the movement.
He formally launched his campaign during a June appearance on Triggered, the podcast hosted by Donald Trump Jr., underscoring his ties to the Trump wing of the GOP. Republican Sens. Bernie Moreno of Ohio and Jim Banks of Indiana have also endorsed Morris, further consolidating support from the partys conservative and populist ranks.
The race, however, is far from uncontested. Republican Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky is also seeking the seat and has already raised more than $6 million, while Morris, prior to Musks intervention, had reported just $1.5 million in contributions, according to the New York Post.
Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron has joined the GOP field as well, adding another well-known conservative to an already crowded primary. As noted by Axios, Trump has not yet made an endorsement in the contest, leaving open the possibility that Musks early and decisive backing of Morris could help shape the direction of both the race and the post-McConnell Republican Party.
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