Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., has built much of her Senate campaign on a fierce denunciation of Elon Musk, hammering the tech billionaire's role in Trump's government efficiency agenda as chaos that destroys lives. Yet the Democratic candidate is sitting on roughly $50,000 in campaign funds that Musk's SpaceX company funneled to her over the past six years, and she shows no intention of giving it back.
The money came through the SpaceX PAC between 2019 and 2024, according to Federal Election Commission records. When Stevens launched her Senate race last year, she transferred more than $1 million from her House campaign account to her Senate fund, effectively carrying forward the SpaceX contributions as she ramps up attacks on Musk himself.
A campaign spokesperson, Arik Wolk, told NBC News that Stevens has no plans to redirect the funds to charity despite a growing pattern among other Democratic candidates who have done exactly that. "Haley fights for Michigan and only Michigan, and nothing will ever change that," Wolk said, adding that Stevens has "taken on Elon Musk" while championing the state's manufacturing sector.
The uncomfortable alignment between Stevens' rhetoric and her fundraising reflects a deeper tension within Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, scheduled for Aug. 4. With incumbent Sen. Gary Peters stepping aside, the race has become a high-stakes battle over the party's direction in a crucial battleground state. The winner will face former Rep. Mike Rogers in the general election.
Stevens represents the moderate, establishment wing of the party. She served in President Barack Obama's administration and has backing from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Her rivals in the primary are taking different paths. Former public health official Abdul El-Sayed carries endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders and progressive figures, while State Sen. Mallory McMorrow has positioned herself in the ideological middle with support from Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Chris Murphy.
The SpaceX contributions have not yet become a major flashpoint in Michigan the way they did in New Jersey's 2024 gubernatorial primary. Then-Rep. Mikie Sherrill faced attack ads over $24,000 from the SpaceX PAC and ultimately donated the money to a food bank. Josh Gottheimer, another candidate in that race, redirected his $2,500 to help other Democrats.
Other Democratic Senate candidates have similarly distanced themselves from Musk money. Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois both converted their SpaceX contributions to charitable donations. Krishnamoorthi lost his primary in March. Craig is competing in an August race.
Stevens' relationship with SpaceX is particularly tangled because of her role on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. She has been a vocal advocate for Michigan's aerospace sector and has engaged with SpaceX suppliers in the state. In 2020, she posted on social media about meeting with SpaceX manufacturers in Troy. Last March, she praised the successful launch of SpaceX's Starship as a triumph for commercial space. That same month, the SpaceX PAC donated $5,000 to her leadership PAC. It was the final contribution the company made to support her.
Stevens has also shaped policy that directly affects Musk's interests. She has raised concerns about launch license delays and regulations that SpaceX opposes. At a September 2024 subcommittee hearing, Stevens complained about bureaucratic gridlock preventing timely approvals. "What is clear and evident is that we are in a bureaucratic soup," she said.
Yet as Musk rose to prominence in Trump's administration last year, Stevens introduced bills pointedly targeting him. Her Taxpayer Data Protection Act aimed to block unauthorized access to personal financial information through the Treasury Department, a direct response to Musk's work leading the Department of Government Efficiency. Neither that bill nor her legislation to reverse Social Security staffing cuts has moved in the Republican-controlled House.
Neither El-Sayed nor McMorrow received SpaceX PAC support, according to federal and state campaign records. Both have criticized Musk's role in the Trump administration. McMorrow previously offered measured praise for Musk's businesses while noting the billions they received in tax incentives, arguing in 2021 that similar public investment should go toward childcare.
Stevens' campaign has not directly explained why she is retaining the SpaceX funds when other Democrats have donated them away. The spokesperson only reiterated her commitment to Michigan and her record of challenging Musk on government efficiency matters.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Stevens is trying to have it both ways, but voters will eventually ask why she's keeping Musk's money if she really believes his work is destroying Michigan."
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