The Daily Populous Tuesday January 20th, 2026 morning edition
Authored by commondreams.org and submitted by Silent-Resort-3076

After flirting last year with forming his own political party, far-right billionaire Elon Musk is funding Republican political candidates once again.

Axios reported on Monday that Musk recently made a massive $10 million donation to bolster Nate Morris, a MAGA candidate who is vying to replace retiring US Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Axios described the massive donation, the largest Musk has ever given to a Senate candidate, as "the biggest sign yet that Musk plans to spend big in the 2026 midterms, giving Republicans a formidable weapon in the expensive battle to keep their congressional majorities."

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) reacted with disgust to the news, and said that Musk's enormous donation was indicative of a broken campaign finance system.

"Are we really living in a democracy when the richest man on earth can spend as much as he wants to elect his candidates?" Sanders asked in a social media post.

"The most important thing our nation can do is end Citizens United and move to public funding of elections," he added, referring to the 2010 Supreme Court decision that cleared the way for unlimited spending on elections by corporations. "Billionaires can’t be allowed to buy elections."

Democratic Maine State Auditor Matt Dunlap, currently running to represent Maine's second congressional district, also denounced Musk for throwing his weight around to buy politicians.

"Billionaires buy our elections, rig the tax code, and undermine our democracy," wrote Dunlap. "Working people deserve a government that works for them—not for billionaires like Elon Musk."

Musk is no stranger to spending big to help elect Republicans, having spent more than $250 million in 2024 to help secure President Donald Trump's victory.

However, his riches are no guarantee of a GOP win. Last year, for example, Musk spent millions to elect former Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel to a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, only to wind up losing the race by 10 points.

ImLikeReallySmart on January 19th, 2026 at 23:24 UTC »

So you mean Musk was full of shit when he said he was backing congressional Republicans in 2022 simply because balancing the executive branch was the most important thing to him?

Oily_Fan on January 19th, 2026 at 23:23 UTC »

In case anyone was wondering, $10 million to Elon Musk is the equivalent of someone who has $100,000 donating $1.67 to a political campaign.

Elon Musk is literally buying election influence with his pocket change

loot_scooper on January 19th, 2026 at 23:22 UTC »

Billionaires are openly bribing members on the SCOTUS