Voters in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District this week began getting text and phone messages telling them to vote against Democratic candidate Matt Dunlap and for Republican Paul LePage.
Those messages are coming from Elon Musk’s super political action committee.
The spending by Musk’s America PAC marks the latest attempt by the world’s wealthiest person to influence potentially key congressional races in Maine and its first foray in the 2nd District race.
The America PAC is already spending to help reelect Republican Sen. Susan Collins as part of a larger push by Musk to ensure Republicans maintain control of Congress.
So far, Musk’s spending on both races is relatively modest — $200,000 on the Senate race and $21,000 on the 2nd District contest. But the early expenditures are part of what’s expected to be a $120 million effort to shape outcomes in midterm races across the country.
Meanwhile, Democrats targeted by the attacks have tried to use them in their own messaging by claiming Musk is trying to buy the election and extract policies and government contracts favorable to his various tech ventures, including development of artificial intelligence.
This story appears through a media partnership with Maine Public.