Elon Musk backs Kentucky GOP Senate candidate Nate Morris with $10M donation
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has made a significant impact in the hotly contested Senate race in Kentucky by donating $10 million to Senate Republican challenger Nate Morris. This generous donation, made to a Morris-backing super PAC, is the largest contribution Musk has made to a candidate for federal office other than President Trump.
Morris, the founder of waste and recycling firm Rubicon, who later sold it for $2 billion, is competing against Rep. Andy Barr and former commonwealth Attorney General Daniel Cameron to fill the vacancy left by retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell. Musk was impressed by Morris’ business background and anti-establishment, anti-McConnell message, prompting him to support the candidate.
Morris has been vocal about his anti-McConnell stance, criticizing the senator for his actions post-2020 election and labeling Cameron and Barr as McConnell’s puppets. Barr, who raised more funds than Morris in the last six months of 2025, boasted a campaign war chest of over $6.42 million, while Morris, who largely self-funded his campaign, had $1.5 million cash on hand.
Despite Barr’s fundraising success, Morris continues to receive support from Musk and intends to keep loaning money to his campaign through the upcoming Republican primary. Musk, who had previously expressed intentions to reduce political spending, has since repaired his relationship with Trump and has been advocating for the GOP in the midterms.
Musk’s contributions this cycle include $45 million to his own America PAC, $10 million to PACs supporting the GOP’s majorities in the House and Senate, and $5 million to Make America Great Again, Inc. He has been vocal about his concerns regarding the radical left and has emphasized the importance of Republicans winning in the midterms.
In the Kentucky Senate race, Morris has already spent $6 million on TV ads but is trailing behind in the polls. Despite endorsements from Trump allies, Barr remains a strong contender in the race. Morris, on the other hand, has garnered support from senators and conservative figures like Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk.
The race remains competitive, with no endorsement yet from former President Trump. As the primary approaches, all eyes are on the candidates and their strategies to secure victory in the upcoming election.
