The political action committee (PAC) funded by billionaire Elon Musk to help re-elect Donald Trump is facing significant challenges in key swing states, with reports of underperformance and claims of canvassers inflating voter contact numbers. The PAC, known as America PAC, is responsible for mobilizing voters in battleground states like Wisconsin and Nevada but is reportedly failing to meet its doorknocking goals, just weeks before the November 5 election.
Several individuals involved in the outreach efforts revealed that canvassers are being warned they are missing crucial voter contact targets. In Wisconsin, for instance, the group had set a goal of reaching 450,000 voters by Election Day, but field organizers recently admitted they are far behind. A recording of an October 8 meeting, reviewed by Reuters, captures a manager stating, “We’re not going to hit 450,000, not with what we’ve got now.”
Alysia McMillan, a former canvasser for the PAC in Wisconsin, voiced concerns that failing to meet these targets could cost Trump the election. McMillan, who was fired after a pay dispute but later rehired by another contractor, claimed, “If this isn’t looked into in a timely manner, this can result in a waste of time and money and risk President Trump winning the election.”
Similar issues have surfaced in other states. In Nevada, Chris Young, a close aide to Musk and a Republican operative, reportedly conducted an audit to investigate whether canvassers had inflated their reported doorknocking efforts. There are concerns that some workers had manipulated smartphone apps to falsify their locations, prompting firings.
Despite these challenges, a source close to the PAC’s operations disputed McMillan’s claims, stating that the group is on track to meet its targets. Audits and routine field checks are standard practice, they said, to ensure the canvassing efforts are progressing as planned.
America PAC’s outreach strategy centers on encouraging “low propensity voters”—those who are likely Trump supporters but may be reluctant to cast their votes—to turn out in large numbers. The group’s work is focused on key battleground states where even a slight shift in voter turnout could determine the outcome in a race that remains too close to call, with polls showing a tight contest between Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Musk, currently ranked as the world’s wealthiest individual, has provided at least $75 million to America PAC, according to federal filings. His financial backing is critical to Trump’s 2024 bid to return to the White House. Musk has publicly expressed his support for Trump, and Trump has indicated that he would appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission if re-elected.
However, the campaign has been plagued by operational issues, particularly with retaining canvassers. Some canvassers have complained about low pay—starting as low as $20 per hour in some instances—and long hours, often with no reimbursement for travel expenses in remote areas. As a result, retention has been a persistent problem.
In Nevada, the audit led by Young has not yet yielded a public report, and it is unclear if any changes have been made to the canvassing operation. Text messages from managers at Lone Mountain Strategies, one of the contractors hired by the PAC, revealed concerns over canvassers caught cheating by falsifying their doorknocking efforts. “We’ve fired two people today and auditors are going around checking doors for flyers,” one message read.
As Election Day draws nearer, America PAC has ramped up its efforts to recruit more canvassers, advertising pay rates starting at $30 per hour with performance bonuses on its website.