Democrats Target Elon Musk In New Ads And Fundraising Push

Elon Musk has become the unlikely star of Democratic attack ads and fundraising campaigns, as politicians from Virginia to Wisconsin seize on his role in cutting federal spending to energize voters and donors.

A leading Democratic group, House Majority Forward, recently launched ads in nearly two dozen House races, portraying vulnerable Republican incumbents as willing to slash healthcare funding for children and the elderly to benefit billionaires like Musk. The ads feature images of Musk holding a chainsaw at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where he celebrated deep spending cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Musk’s influence isn’t just being used in congressional races. The Virginia House Democratic Caucus has rolled out a digital campaign tying Musk to Republican spending cuts, hoping to expand their narrow majority in the state House of Delegates. In Wisconsin, Musk is also the focus of ads supporting the liberal candidate in a critical state Supreme Court race that could shift the ideological balance of the court.

Musk: A Political Liability for Republicans?

The push to spotlight Musk tests whether the Tesla CEO — whom Forbes ranks as the world’s richest person — will become a political liability for Republicans. Recent polling suggests that Musk’s association with federal cuts isn’t sitting well with voters.

A Marist/NPR/PBS poll from late February found that 50% of respondents viewed Musk unfavorably, compared to just 39% with a positive opinion. Among Democrats, 96% said Musk holds too much power — a view shared by just 16% of Republicans. A separate Quinnipiac poll showed that 55% of Americans believe Musk has too much influence over U.S. policy decisions.

“He makes for a very convenient boogeyman,” said Lynda Tran, a Democratic strategist and former Biden administration official. “Whether you like it or not, his name is everywhere right now.”

Jesse Ferguson, another Democratic strategist, noted that Musk has become “the face of the wealthy elite” who are driving Trump’s cost-cutting agenda. “Musk is now the image of the billionaire who fired your uncle or shut down your cousin’s factory,” he said.

Trump Defends Musk, Faces Backlash

Musk’s growing political influence was on display during Trump’s recent joint address to Congress, where the former president publicly thanked Musk — who had a prime seat in the gallery — for helping to identify and eliminate “appalling waste.” Some Democratic lawmakers protested Trump’s remarks, including Rep. Al Green of Texas, who was later censured for his actions.

Despite defending Musk, Trump has begun to adjust his approach. This week, he limited Musk’s authority over staffing changes at federal agencies and called for more precision in spending cuts — opting for a “scalpel” rather than a “hatchet.”

Wisconsin’s High-Stakes Supreme Court Race

Musk’s political spending is also making waves in Wisconsin, where a state Supreme Court race could flip the court’s balance of power. Musk’s political action committee, America PAC, has spent over $3.2 million supporting conservative candidate Brad Schimel and opposing liberal contender Susan Crawford. Another Musk-backed group, Building America’s Future, has poured in an additional $2 million.

In response, Crawford’s campaign and supporting groups have made Musk the centerpiece of their counterattack. The Wisconsin Democratic Party launched a seven-figure campaign featuring Musk, including ads, town halls, and a website called People v. Musk.

Crawford’s team has leaned into grassroots fundraising to counter Musk’s spending. After launching Facebook ads highlighting Musk’s financial influence, the campaign received over 36,000 small donations in just one week — surpassing all contributions made before February.

“The attempts by Susan Crawford and the Democrats to distract the people of Wisconsin from her extreme views and the radical billionaires funding her are a mockery of hypocrisy,” said Schimel’s spokesperson, Jacob Fischer.

Virginia Democrats Target Musk

In Virginia, Democrats are hoping that Musk’s deep spending cuts will motivate voters. Last year, the state was home to over 144,000 federal civilian workers, many of whom are feeling the effects of budget cuts tied to Musk’s influence.

“Musk is taking a chainsaw to their lives and livelihoods,” said state Delegate Dan Helmer, who chairs campaign efforts for the Virginia House Democratic Caucus.

Democrats are targeting 12 Republican state lawmakers in swing districts — eight of which President Kamala Harris won in 2024 — by tying them to Musk’s spending cuts.

Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia, said this strategy could help Democrats reach disillusioned Trump supporters. “Emphasizing Musk is a way of connecting with voters who backed Trump but are uncomfortable with federal cuts,” he said.

Risk of Backlash

Targeting Musk comes with risks. A Democratic strategist warned that attacking Musk could motivate him to pour even more money into Republican races.

“The risk of going after Musk in politics is that he has an unlimited bank account,” the strategist said. “Does attacking him just make him double down?”

Early Midterm Strategy

House Majority Forward has already started rolling out midterm campaign ads accusing Republicans of cutting healthcare funding while extending Trump-era tax breaks for the wealthy. The ads claim Republicans want to cut $880 billion from healthcare and energy programs over the next decade — potentially affecting Medicaid, which covers more than 1 in 5 Americans.

Republicans have pushed back, arguing the cuts would target waste and fraud, not direct benefits.

“The Democrat Party is upstream without a paddle — they have no message, no agenda, and no support,” said NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella. “Now they’re resorting to fearmongering and outright lies.”

With Musk at the center of the political storm, Democrats are betting that his billionaire status and high-profile role in federal cuts will rally their base and swing key elections in their favor.