Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and CEO of Tesla, is increasingly becoming a focal point in Democratic advertising and fundraising efforts. Politicians in states like Virginia and Wisconsin are leveraging Musk's role in federal government spending cuts to galvanize their voters and donors. This strategy aims to portray Republicans as allies of the ultra-rich, willing to sacrifice public services for the benefit of billionaires like Musk.

House Majority Forward, a prominent Democratic outside group, has launched ads in numerous House races, linking vulnerable GOP incumbents to Musk and accusing them of prioritizing tax breaks for the wealthy over healthcare for children and the elderly. These ads feature images of Musk wielding a chainsaw, a symbol of his commitment to slashing government spending, which he brandished at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

In Virginia, the House Democratic Caucus is using Musk in a digital ad campaign to bolster their narrow majority in the state House of Delegates. Similarly, in Wisconsin, Musk is featured in commercials supporting a liberal candidate for an open judicial seat, a race that could shift the ideological balance of the state's Supreme Court.

This advertising blitz is designed to test whether Musk's public image, particularly his association with federal workforce reductions and government streamlining, will become a political liability for Republicans. Democratic strategist Lynda Tran notes that Musk has become a "convenient boogeyman" due to his prominent role in current events.

Recent polling data suggests that Musk's involvement in cost-cutting measures is unpopular, especially among Democratic voters. A Marist/NPR/PBS poll revealed that 50% of respondents held an unfavorable view of Musk. The partisan divide is stark: 96% of Democrats believe Musk has too much power, compared to only 16% of Republicans. A Quinnipiac University poll indicated that 55% of voters overall think Musk wields excessive influence in decisions affecting the United States.

Democratic strategist Jesse Ferguson argues that Musk is perceived as "the face of somebody who fired their uncle or shifted their cousin’s factory overseas," associating him with the negative impacts of wealth inequality and corporate decisions. Notably, Musk did not respond to a CNN inquiry regarding these advertising campaigns.

Former President Trump publicly thanked Musk for his efforts to eliminate "appalling waste" during a joint address to Congress. However, in response to growing backlash, Trump reportedly placed limits on Musk's authority, emphasizing that Cabinet members have the final say on staffing changes and calling for a more precise approach to cost-cutting.

In Wisconsin, Musk's political action committee, America PAC, has spent $3.2 million to support conservative judicial candidate Brad Schimel and attack his liberal opponent, Susan Crawford. Another group backed by Musk, Building America’s Future, has contributed an additional $2 million to the race. The outcome of the April 1 election will determine the ideological control of the state Supreme Court, with implications for issues such as abortion rights and collective bargaining.

Groups supporting Crawford have launched counter-ads featuring Musk, with the Wisconsin Democratic Party initiating a seven-figure campaign that includes commercials and a "People v. Musk" website. A Better Wisconsin Together Political Fund is running ads accusing Musk of causing chaos and attempting to "buy" the Wisconsin court seat. Crawford's campaign has also used Musk's spending to solicit donations, resulting in a surge of grassroots contributions.

Schimel's campaign spokesperson, Jacob Fischer, criticized Crawford and the Democrats for attempting to distract voters from her "extreme views" and the "radical billionaires" funding her campaign. Crawford also has the support of billionaires, including George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who have donated to the Wisconsin Democratic Party.

In Virginia, Democrats are hopeful that their Musk-focused advertising will resonate with voters affected by federal workforce reductions. State Delegate Dan Helmer stated that Musk is "taking a chainsaw to their lives and livelihoods." Democrats aim to connect Musk to vulnerable Republican incumbents, particularly those in districts that supported Kamala Harris in the last election.

Kyle Kondik from the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia suggests that emphasizing Musk is a way to communicate with voters who supported Trump but are concerned about federal cuts. However, some strategists caution that targeting Musk could backfire, given his vast financial resources.

House Majority Forward has also launched ads accusing Republicans of failing to reduce the prices of basic goods and of planning to cut healthcare spending to benefit the wealthy. These ads link Republican lawmakers to Musk and a vote to advance Trump's agenda, including extending his tax cuts. The House GOP spending framework aims to find $880 billion in healthcare and energy savings over a decade, with Democrats accusing Republicans of planning to cut Medicaid benefits to fund tax breaks for the rich.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) argues that these ads misrepresent the benefits of Trump's tax proposals. NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella stated that Democrats are resorting to "shameless fearmongering and outright lies" to hide their tax increases on hardworking Americans.