Layoffs & Tech JobsNov 3, 2026·2 min read

The midterm races to watch if you care about money, Musk, and the AI boom

Business Insider – Tech

1d ago

The midterm races to watch if you care about money, Musk, and the AI boom

Summary

Michael Gonzalez/Getty; Brandon Bell/Getty; BI The midterms will be, in part, a referendum on AI and Big Tech backlash. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk , in particular, has a lot at stake. Here are the key races that we're watching. The 2026 midterms have arrived. Beyond control of Congress, Tuesday's election will illustrate the extent of Silicon Valley's political power and the breadth of the AI backlash. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk , in particular, has a lot at stake, with record donations powering a last-minute effort to save a Texas Senate seat and perhaps the GOP majority, too. In addition to the candidates, there are big ballot questions looming, none more so than the California wealth tax fight. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat; Bill Redpath, a libertarian; and Greg Levy, an independent Where it stands: Husted, a former lieutenant governor, is trying to hang on to Vice President JD Vance's Senate seat, but he's facing a fierce challenge from Brown, a former three-term senator who is seeking to return to Congress. Earlier this summer, Senate Republicans' campaign arm warned AI labs that if Husted goes down "and data centers get the blame, politicians across the country will take notice — and they will not go near the next one." Polls close: 7:30 p.m. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Mark Schiefelbein/AP Texas Senate Candidates: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican; State Rep.

From the source

Michael Gonzalez/Getty; Brandon Bell/Getty; BI The midterms will be, in part, a referendum on AI and Big Tech backlash. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk , in particular, has a lot at stake. Here are the key races that we're watching. The 2026 midterms have arrived. Beyond control of Congress, Tuesday's election will illustrate the extent of Silicon Valley's political power and the breadth of the AI backlash. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk , in particular, has a lot at stake, with record donations powering a last-minute effort to save a Texas Senate seat and perhaps the GOP majority, too. In addition to the candidates, there are big ballot questions looming, none more so than the California wealth tax fight. Here's what we're watching. Ohio Senate Sen. Jon Husted, a Republican from Ohio, walks past President Donald Trump Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Candidates: Sen. Jon Husted, a Republican; former Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat; Bill Redpath, a libertarian; and Greg Levy, an independent Where it stands: Huste

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