Introduction: The Most "WIRED" Midterms Yet
With the midterm elections just a month away, the 2026 cycle is proving to be unlike any before it. Races are being shaped—and in some cases, decided—by forces that were once confined to the tech industry: Silicon Valley funding, debates over data centers, AI regulation, and even extremism. From Senate contests to lesser-known local races that will determine who controls voting in key swing states for 2028, the influence of technology and its billionaire backers is undeniable. WIRED is closely monitoring a set of candidates and races that embody this new political reality. One such race, in Texas, offers a vivid snapshot of how tech money, AI lobbying, and defense interests are converging on a single congressional district.
Texas' 10th Congressional District: A Case Study in Tech Politics
The race for Texas' newly gerrymandered 10th Congressional District pits Republican Chris Gober against Democrat Caitlin Rourk. But what makes this contest particularly notable is not just the candidates themselves, but the web of tech-aligned interests surrounding Gober's campaign. The district, redrawn during the 2025 redistricting effort, was designed to create five new Republican-leaning seats. Gober served as counsel for the Texas Republican congressional delegation during that redistricting process, giving him a direct hand in shaping the very map he now seeks to represent.
Musk, America PAC, and the DOGE Connection
Gober's ties to Elon Musk's political operation run deep. He previously represented Musk's America PAC as a lawyer. According to reporting from The New York Times, Gober was also among several lawyers who advised on the structure of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the weeks before President Donald Trump's inauguration. DOGE, a controversial initiative aimed at slashing government spending, has become a lightning rod for debates over tech's role in governance. Gober's involvement in both Musk's PAC and DOGE's formation underscores how Silicon Valley's political influence is extending into the machinery of federal policy.
Data Centers, AI, and Defense Tech
Gober's law firm, Lex Politica, has represented an array of clients that reflect the tech industry's sprawling interests. Among them is Elevate New Mexico, a limited liability company that ran an advertising campaign supporting a controversial data center project in New Mexico. Data centers—essential for AI development and cloud computing—have become a flashpoint in local politics across the country, raising concerns about energy consumption, water use, and land rights. Lex Politica also represented the Danube Institute USA, a think tank aligned with Hungary's former right-wing leader Viktor Orban, highlighting the international dimensions of tech-linked political networks.
The 10th district itself is poised to become a hub for advanced manufacturing. Grimes County, which lies within the district, is where SpaceXAI and Tesla have announced plans to open a 100-million-square-foot "terafab" facility to manufacture semiconductors. The project, if realized, would be a massive economic development, but it also raises questions about the role of private tech giants in shaping local economies and political landscapes.
Gober's professional portfolio extends further. His LinkedIn profile lists him as general counsel for a lobbying group called Maven Advocacy Partners, whose client base includes several defense tech startups. The name appears to reference the Department of War's Project Maven, a military AI initiative supported by tech companies like Palantir and Anduril. Gober also runs another company, Maven Defense Solutions. Both the lobbying group and the defense company share an address with his law firm, Lex Politica, and his campaign office—a convergence of business, lobbying, and politics that critics might view as a conflict of interest, but which also illustrates how intertwined these sectors have become.
Campaign Financing and AI Lobbying
Gober's campaign has received $747,550 from the American Mission PAC, a right-leaning super PAC. That PAC, in turn, has received funding from Leading the Future, a political action committee focused on promoting AI-friendly candidates. The influx of AI-aligned money into a single congressional race signals how seriously the tech industry is taking regulation efforts at the federal level. As lawmakers grapple with how to govern artificial intelligence, data privacy, and online extremism, candidates who align with tech interests are seeing substantial financial support.
Why This Race Matters Beyond Texas
The Texas 10th District is just one example of a broader trend. Across the country, down-ballot races are increasingly being influenced by tech money and AI lobbying. The outcomes of these contests could determine not only who sits in Congress but also the future of AI regulation, data center expansion, and the role of private companies in public infrastructure. For voters, the choice is becoming less about traditional party lines and more about which vision of a tech-driven future they want to endorse.
Moreover, the race highlights the growing political power of individuals like Elon Musk, whose PACs and personal endorsements can reshape districts. It also underscores the rise of defense tech as a political force, with companies like Palantir and Anduril gaining influence through lobbying and campaign contributions. The convergence of these interests in a single race is a preview of what may become the norm in elections to come.
What to Watch in the Final Weeks
As the midterms approach, WIRED will be keeping a close eye on races like Texas' 10th District. Key questions include:
- Will voters reward candidates with deep tech ties, or will they punish them for perceived conflicts of interest?
- How will data center controversies—like the one in New Mexico—influence local races?
- Will AI-focused PACs like Leading the Future succeed in electing candidates who will advocate for light-touch regulation?
- What does the outcome say about the effectiveness of Musk's political spending?
The answers will shape not only the next Congress but also the trajectory of technology policy in the United States. For now, the Texas 10th District stands as a microcosm of the forces at play: Silicon Valley money, AI lobbying, defense tech, and the persistent question of how to govern emerging technologies in a polarized political landscape.
Conclusion
The 2026 midterms are indeed the most "WIRED" elections yet. The lines between tech, politics, and governance have blurred, and the candidates who embrace these connections—or are backed by them—are finding both opportunities and challenges. As WIRED continues to track these races, one thing is clear: the influence of technology on American democracy is only growing, and the ballots cast this November will reverberate for years to come.
This article is based on reporting by Wired. Read the original article.
Originally published on wired.com
