What is a super PAC? How Elon Musk could funnel millions to help elect Trump
Elon Musk has said he plans to commit $45 million a month to a super political-action committee supporting Donald Trump, the latest in a series of large-dollar donors ponying up tens of millions of dollars in presidential races. The recent flood of money from pro-Trump donors puts pressure on President Biden, who was recently overtaken by his GOP rival in the 2024 money race. Super PACs are groups that can raise unlimited sums of money for what are known as independent expenditures, such as advertising that supports or opposes a candidate.
They became especially prominent during the 2012 presidential election and have grown since. Super PACs are prohibited from coordinating directly with the candidates they support. But they can still infer the direction of the campaign from afar—or get close to the line on what is allowed, such as publicly posting strategy memos that a campaign committee might happen to come across.
Corporations and labor unions form old-fashioned PACs to back or oppose political candidates. Donors are limited to giving $5,000 a year to a PAC, and PACs can only give as much as $3,300 a candidate each election. If a PAC gives to five or more candidates—and receives donations from at least 51 people—that increases the cap to $5,000 a candidate each election.
Politicians can also create committees to help their colleagues through so-called leadership PACs, which are bound by the same rules as old-fashioned PACs. Those committees have come under scrutiny for using funds on lavish dining and travel expenses. Contribution limits, set by federal law, vary depending on the type of committee—and there are several kinds.
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