In a surprising turn of events, Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, played a pivotal role in Donald Trump's unexpected presidential victory. Musk's new super PAC effectively led Trump's get-out-the-vote operation in battleground states, a risky gamble that future candidates may seek to emulate. This article delves into the details of Musk's $175 million ground game and its impact on the election outcome.

A Billionaire's Thumb on the Scale of American Politics

Musk's Massive Ground Game Investment

Musk almost single-handedly funded an effort that cost more than $175 million, a staggering sum that dwarfed the spending of traditional political campaigns. His canvassers knocked on close to 11 million doors in presidential battleground states since August, including about 1.8 million in Michigan and 2.3 million in Pennsylvania. An additional $30 million was spent on a large direct-mail program, and approximately $22 million on digital advertising, including on Trump-friendly mediums like Barstool Sports.

Targeting Low-Propensity Voters

When Musk first met with political advisers in the spring, he focused on turning out 800,000 to a million "low-propensity" voters in seven battleground states – people, especially in rural areas, who might be inclined to vote for Trump but had spotty voting records. While the exact impact of this strategy is yet to be determined, Trump claimed a dominating margin in rural areas, a clear focus of Musk's ground game efforts.

Musk's Victory Lap and the Implications

At a raucous election-night gathering, Musk sat two seats away from Trump, ready to claim wide credit for his decisive presidential win. Musk told the conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that his "America PAC massively improved the Republican ground game in the swing states," and even posted a meme of himself in the Oval Office to his 203 million followers on X, his social media platform.This victory lap was the culmination of Musk's risky gamble, which saw a political neophyte entrusted with a crucial campaign function. While it is difficult to disentangle Musk's ground work from other influences that propelled Trump to the White House, there is little doubt that the election was a win not only for Musk but also for big-money politics. An ultrawealthy donor like Musk took advantage of America's evolving campaign-finance system to put his thumb on the scale like never before, a precedent that could have far-reaching implications for the future of American democracy.