Elon Musk Spends $500,000 to Back Rep. Mike Lawler's Re-Election Bid in New York

Elon Musk's America PAC directed more than $500,000 toward the re-election campaign of Republican Representative Mike Lawler in New York's 17th Congressional District, a race seen as pivotal for control of the U.S. House of Representatives. The funds financed digital advertisements on Google, YouTube, and Facebook depicting Lawler as a fighter while attacking Democratic challenger Cait Conley — an Army veteran and former counterterrorism official — by linking her to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The 17th District, covering the Hudson Valley, has attracted more than $16 million in total super-PAC spending, making it one of the most expensive House races in the country. Musk has spent at least $276 million on Republican congressional efforts nationwide since July 2026. His PAC also spent $1.7 million supporting Lawler in 2024. Conley's campaign called the spending dark money and has sought to make Musk's involvement a campaign issue, while Lawler's team welcomed the support.