Musk-Funded PAC Blasts Out Anti-Trans Ads in Midterms

Elon Musk is testing a familiar culture-war play in battleground states during an unfamiliar midterms climate. His America PAC has rolled out some of its first ads, hammering Democratic Senate candidates in Ohio, Iowa, Texas, and Alaska over transgender athletes, gender-affirming care, and related policies—issues that AdImpact note have been relatively rare in GOP Senate messaging so far, reports Axios. The super PAC, reportedly cleared to spend more than $100 million, is focused on turnout, including via digital and streaming ads aimed at motivating Republican voters to show up.

The ads are targeting James Talarico in Texas, Sherrod Brown in Ohio, Josh Turek in Iowa, and Mary Peltola in Alaska; the New York Times features some examples, including an ad against Talarico that declares he "believes there are six genders." The gambit comes as high prices and the Iran war dominate voters' concerns, while trans and broader LGBT issues barely register in polling.

Still, Republicans recall how effective Donald Trump's "Kamala is for they/them" line of attack was in 2024, and Musk has become an outspoken critic of transgender policies after his own daughter transitioned. "Elon Musk is scapegoating LGBTQ+ Americans to distract voters from the cuts he made and the chaos he has caused," a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign said in a statement.