Texas candidate runs in district housing SpaceX's largest division

Chris Gober is running for Congress in Texas' 10th District with less than a week until Election Day. The Republican candidate previously served as the director and chief lawyer for America PAC, Elon Musk's political fundraising group. His district is home to major components of Musk's business empire.

SpaceX's artificial intelligence segment became its largest business unit in 2026. The division generated $7.56 billion in revenue during the third quarter. That figure represents a ninefold increase from $813 million a year earlier, according to the company's earnings update released in late October.

The district also contains the Terafab, an AI chip factory under construction by Tesla and SpaceX. Additionally, The Boring Co., Musk's tunneling firm, maintains offices in Pflugerville. Federal Election Commission filings show that SpaceX's political action committee donated $10,000 to Gober's campaign this cycle.

Gober's campaign has not prominently featured his history with Musk. His website highlights an endorsement from President Donald Trump and a commitment to the America First Agenda. Campaign manager Zach Gregory said the site was updated to focus on local priorities. Gober stated, "My work with America PAC has been widely reported and is no secret."

Democrat Caitlin Rourk has targeted the connection in a new advertisement. She argued that Musk already had Gober as his lawyer and now wants him in Congress. Rourk, a U.S. Army veteran and former Dell Technologies employee, accused Gober of hoping voters would overlook his background. She noted that an election win would tie taxpayer money to SpaceX defense contracts and Tesla transportation projects.

Gober's law firm, Lex Politica, currently represents Musk and America PAC in two class action suits in Austin federal court. The cases alleged the PAC defrauded voters in swing states by promising a daily $1 million prize. On October 15, the parties agreed to settle the suits without disclosing terms. Gober said he is working with the House Ethics Committee and will withdraw from ongoing legal representations if elected.

An April survey by Verasight found that 74% of Democrats and 53% of Independents view Musk unfavorably. Only 17% of Republicans share that view. Ben Leff, the Verasight CEO, noted that candidates associated with Musk may face challenges in an election cycle that is already difficult for Republicans.