A new nonprofit organization named the Association of State and Local Election Officials has been established by an attorney who previously worked at Lex Politica, a law firm linked to Elon Musk. The firm was founded by Chris Gober, who served as chief counsel for America PAC and is running for a seat in the House of Representatives in Texas. Registration filings in Texas show that the group was officially incorporated to focus on voting policies at both state and local levels across the country.
The organization's board of directors features notable figures including Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, current and former election officials from Georgia, a state representative from Michigan, and the president of Cleta Mitchell’s Election Integrity Network. Cord Byrd announced his involvement with the group alongside Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, stating that the organization will promote strict voting rules modeled after Florida's legislative framework nationwide. Neither Byrd nor DeSantis responded to inquiries regarding their specific roles within the newly formed nonprofit.
The extent of Elon Musk's direct involvement in establishing the organization remains unclear, though his financial contributions to Republican candidates and causes during the current election cycle have been substantial. Musk has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to support various political action committees and get-out-the-vote operations aimed at maintaining a Republican majority in Congress. These political expenditures are critical for Musk, as congressional control could determine whether his companies face future federal investigations if Democrats secure majorities in the House and Senate.
The connection between a law firm tied to Musk and figures involved in contentious voting oversight initiatives aligns with broader political narratives surrounding election administration. The organization was registered in Texas on June 17 by attorney Michael Garcar, who operated out of an address linked to Lex Politica in Washington, DC. Although Garcar has since departed the firm for Five Rings Law Group, questions regarding the firm's formal ties to the newly launched election nonprofit have not been answered by the attorneys involved.
During a September press conference, state leaders emphasized that the organization intends to establish regional chapters to train local officials and advocate for uniform election laws. Critics, however, have raised concerns over the inclusion of board members who have previously challenged certified election outcomes or pushed controversial investigations into voting procedures in counties like Fulton County in Georgia. While Musk has maintained a quieter public profile on domestic politics recently, his online commentary continues to touch upon federal election policies and noncitizen voting debates.
