Elon Musk is positioning himself as a potential spoiler for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections, with plans to launch a third party that could undermine the GOP’s efforts to retain control of Congress. Polling conducted for the Daily Mail by J.L. Partners in July shows that while a Musk-backed party would attract only 4% support, it would give Democrats a nine-point advantage in a generic House ballot.
Musk, the world’s richest man, has the financial resources to disrupt the two-party system, but questions remain about his strategic focus and discipline. Critics point to his uneven stewardship of X (formerly Twitter) as evidence that his political movement may fizzle out. Hogan Gidley, an adviser to House Speaker Mike Johnson, noted that third parties historically struggle due to a lack of a natural voter base and complex ballot access rules.
Musk announced the formation of the “America Party” on July 7, but has yet to file any official paperwork. He has signalled support for libertarian-leaning Representative Thomas Massie, who broke with MAGA by voting against President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill”. However, an aide to Massie confirmed that no official outreach from Musk has occurred.
Musk’s political popularity has waned sharply. A CNN survey released in July found him to be the least popular public figure polled, with his favourability dropping 66 percentage points in four months. Support for his third party stands at just 25%. The Libertarian Party, which has existing ballot access, has urged Musk to join forces with them rather than start from scratch.
James Fishback, a former Department of Government Efficiency employee, is funding efforts to stop Musk, warning that even modest investment in a handful of races could tip the balance of power to Democrats. “That is unacceptable,” he said. Meanwhile, state-level ballot access hurdles remain a significant barrier, requiring tens of thousands of signatures in many states.
