Elon Musk super pac spends $500,000 to back Mike Lawler in New York midterms
The Elon Musk super pac America Pac has put more than $500,000 into New York's 17th congressional district race to help Republican incumbent Mike Lawler hold his seat, Federal Election Commission filings covering the last year show.
Elon Musk super pac spends $500,000 to back Mike Lawler in New York midterms
The Elon Musk super pac America Pac has spent more than $500,000 in New York's 17th congressional district to help Republican incumbent Mike Lawler keep his seat, according to Federal Election Commission filings covering the last year. Gothamist was the first to report on Musk's spending in the race.
A race watched for the House majority
Lawler, a moderate Republican, is defending his Hudson valley seat against Democrat Cait Conley. The contest sits among the most-watched races that could determine whether Republicans hold on to their majority in Congress.
Where the money went
Most of the pac's money has gone to voter outreach, paying for texting, printing, postage and digital media-related services. It is not the first time Musk's pac has backed Lawler: in 2024 it spent more than $2m to help re-elect him.
- Musk is the Republicans' largest donor so far this midterm cycle and has spent millions on conservative candidates.
- Since the beginning of July, he has funneled $276m into Republican groups and America Pac, the New York Times reported.
Conley targets Lawler over Musk
Conley, the former head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, has accused Lawler of protecting Musk rather than regulating artificial intelligence. On X she wrote: "> AI poses a very real threat to the safety and security of the American people, and it's long past time that Congress took action." She added that Lawler is standing in the way because he is looking out for his "trillionaire backer Elon Musk".
The campaign responds
Lawler's campaign manager, Ciro Riccardi, told Gothamist the campaign has "no say over what America PAC or any other outside group spends in this race", citing the ban on coordination between campaigns and outside groups. Polling shows Republican candidates at a slight disadvantage this cycle, with many voters frustrated with the cost of living.
The race in New York's 17th district remains one of the most-watched contests that could determine whether Republicans hold on to their majority in Congress.
