The top photos of the day by AP's photojournalists

From front page news to powerful moments you may have missed, this gallery showcases today's top photos, chosen by Associated Press photo editors.

A vehicle lies crushed beneath a collapsed building after an earthquake struck Penonome, Panama, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Aris Mariota)

Bycatch including a skate, right, and a chum salmon, left, are visible among a pollock catch aboard the F/V Progress in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska, Wednesday, July 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)

A man stands on the roof of a car as another wades through muddy floodwaters after heavy rains caused flash flooding in the Las Condes district of Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Jacksonville Jaguars place kicker Cam Little (39) celebrates after scoring the winning field goal during an NFL football game against Philadelphia Eagles in London, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Palestinians inspect a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike late Saturday in Zawaida, central Gaza Strip, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

President Donald Trump walks to his vehicle after arriving on Air Force One at Syracuse Hancock International Airport, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Supporters of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attend his reelection campaign rally ahead of the presidential runoff vote in Sao Paulo, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Rescue workers pull a family from the rubble of a residential building destroyed by a Russian airstrike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko)

A dog barks in a vehicle as people gather at Herald Square to protest the Oct. 8 shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in New York(AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

A woman is detained by police during a protest demanding the resignation of the country's election chief, Gyanesh Kumar, in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

The Flying Men of Papantla perform the "Danza de los Voladores" on the beach as Hurricane Simon approaches Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Islam Mahfuz salvages contents of their destroyed mini mart in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias in Milton, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Waves hit a walkway in front of homes in Long Beach, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, as Tropical Storm Rachel approaches. (AP Photo/William Liang)

NEW YORK (AP) — Elon Musk, the world's only trillionaire, has quietly become the biggest known donor in this year's midterm elections, doling out more than $276 million since July to try to save Republican majorities in Congress.

The numbers, first reported by the New York Times ahead of this week's federal filing deadline, were confirmed by Andrew Romeo, a spokesperson for Musk's super PAC.

The money includes $158 million given to the Senate Leadership Fund, the main super PAC supporting Republican Senate candidates, one of the largest known political donations in American history, according to the Times.

Another $76 million went to America PAC, a Musk super PAC, which has once again built out a major turnout operation like the one it used to help elect President Donald Trump by knocking on doors in 2024.

Musk also provided $10 million to Lone Star Liberty PAC, a group that supports the Republican nominee for Senate in Texas, Ken Paxton. The race has been a major focus of Musk's efforts.

It's a dramatic turnaround since last May, when Musk said he intended to cut back on future political spending. “I think I’ve done enough," he said at the time.

Despite the cash infusion, Musk has generally kept a lower profile than in 2024, when he appeared on stage next to Trump at rallies, and in the early days of the president's second term, when he led the Department of Government Efficiency.

He had a falling out with Trump while leaving his government post, but the two have since reconciled. Trump presented Musk with the National Medal of Science last week.

Musk's net worth has fluctuated around the trillion-dollar line this year based on changes in stock prices, but he topped $1 trillion again last week according to Forbes magazine.

Republican have a gaping financial advantage over their Democratic counterparts — a disparity that has been a rare bright spot for a party that is bracing for major potential losses amid deep voter frustration over the president's performance, stubbornly high prices and the unpopular war with Iran.

They have been using the money to blanket the airwaves in the race's final stretch.

“These robust investments have allowed the G.O.P. apparatus to get its message out so Republicans can have a fighting chance to defy history," Romeo told the Times.

Democrats responded to the news by accusing Republicans of using vast amounts of cash to mask their shortcomings.

“Republicans are hoping to buy these elections, injecting tens of millions into races to try and outrun their unpopular candidates, unpopular president, and unpopular economy,” said Lauren French, a spokesperson for Democrats' Senate Majority PAC.

President Donald Trump, right, presents the National Medal of Science to Elon Musk at the U.S. Institute of Peace, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)