Billionaire Elon Musk said early Wednesday morning that, as promised, he voted Republican for the first time in his life in Texas’s 34th Congressional District, where Republican Mayra Flores flipped a historically Democrat seat. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO also revealed that he is leaning toward voting for Ron DeSantis in the 2024 presidential election.
Flores, who defeated Democratic candidate Dan Sanchez 51 percent to 43 percent, will become the first Mexican-born congresswoman to serve in the House.
Musk made the pro-GOP revelations following the historic upset in the South Texas special election, Tuesday night.
“I voted for Mayra Flores – first time I ever voted Republican,” Musk tweeted in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. “Massive red wave in 2022.”
I voted for Mayra Flores – first time I ever voted Republican.
Massive red wave in 2022.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 15, 2022
When asked by the Tesla Owners Silicon Valley Twitter account who he was leaning toward supporting in 2024, Musk responded, “DeSantis.”
DeSantis
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 15, 2022
Musk went on to tweet that he’s “thinking of creating a ‘Super Moderate Super PAC'” that would support “candidates with centrist views from all parties.”
“I supported Yang last time, but DeSantis has a better chance of winning,” he added later.
Elon Musk made an offer to buy Twitter for $44 billion in April, but tapped the brakes due to his concerns over the high number of fake accounts on the platform. “My offer was based on Twitter’s SEC filings being accurate,” Musk tweeted early Tuesday. Twitter’s board said in a statement that “We intend to close the transaction and enforce the merger agreement.”
The eclectic tech mogul has been rattling Democrats for weeks by speaking openly about changing his voting habits in favor of Republicans.
Musk first announced that he would be voting for GOP candidates for in the next election cycle on May 16, during an episode of the All-In Podcast at a Miami tech conference.
“I have voted overwhelmingly for Democrats, historically – overwhelmingly. Like I’m not sure, I might never have voted for a Republican, just to be clear,” Musk said on the show. “Now this election, I will.”
He wrote on Twitter on May 18 that he has previously voted for Democrats “because they were (mostly) the kindness party,” but now “they have become the party of division & hate.”
In the past I voted Democrat, because they were (mostly) the kindness party.
But they have become the party of division & hate, so I can no longer support them and will vote Republican.
Now, watch their dirty tricks campaign against me unfold … 🍿
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 18, 2022
Former President Donald Trump congratulated Flores’ on her historic win on Truth Social:
Rep. Filemon Vela, who held the seat for nearly 10 years, resigned in March ahead of the expected red wave in November, leaving the seat vacant, Fox News reported.
Flores will finish out the remainder of Vela’s term, which expires in January, and Republicans were eager to win the seat and gain new ground in the Lone Star state to represent the district that spans east of San Antonio with parts along the coast to Brownsville. As currently drawn, the 34th Congressional District will essentially be dissolved later this year after a newly redrawn map favoring current 15th Congressional District Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, the Democratic nominee for November’s general election to represent the 34th District, was constructed.
“First and foremost I thank God for the blessing of the opportunity to serve the people of Texas’ 34th Congressional District,” Flores told Fox News Digital in a statement. “I am also grateful to my family for their unwavering love and support throughout this campaign, and to the voters of South Texas for entrusting me to represent them in Washington. I look forward to standing strong for our conservative values of faith, family, and freedom and to earning the opportunity to serve our community further in the months to come,” she said.
Update:
Governor Ron DeSantis was asked about Elon Musk’s comments earlier today indicating support for him in 2024, and responded thus:
Gov. Ron DeSantis reacts to Elon Musk saying he would vote for him if he ran for president:
"I welcome support from African Americans. What can I say?" pic.twitter.com/n3OK5b0ocp
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) June 15, 2022