Big Money Fails to Sway Voters in US Midterms

Billions of dollars flowed into the US midterm elections, largely from wealthy Republican backers like Elon Musk, but voters in many races rejected big-money influence, delivering a decisive Democratic victory. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called the result a "blue tsunami." Republicans out-raised Democrats by more than three-to-one from mega-donors, with total ad spending reaching $12 billion. However, underfunded candidates relying on small donations and grassroots mobilization won key races, notably in Texas, where Gina Hinojosa defeated Governor Greg Abbott despite his eightfold spending advantage. Musk spent a record $446 million of his own money, yet his preferred candidates lost in Texas, Ohio, and Maine. The results highlight growing voter backlash against tech billionaires' political influence, particularly amid concerns over AI data centers' environmental and economic costs.