Fairshake-backed candidates won primaries in Michigan and Washington after over $1.3M in spending. The PAC eyes November as Congress debates the CLARITY Act.
Crypto-backed political action committees helped several congressional candidates secure party nominations in Michigan and Washington this week, directing more than $1.3 million into the primary races.
Michigan’s 4th Congressional District delivered one of the latest victories. Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga secured the nomination after receiving nearly $512,000 in support from Defend American Jobs, the Republican-aligned affiliate of crypto-backed PAC Fairshake, according to campaign finance data compiled by Tech Influence Watch. His campaign also received backing from Andreessen Horowitz, Winklevoss Capital and Coinbase.
Huizenga will face Democratic challenger Sean McCann in the November general election. He has consistently backed digital asset legislation. Speaking during a House hearing on stablecoins in March 2025, Huizenga argued lawmakers should establish clear rules for crypto assets and said stablecoins could help reinforce the U.S. dollar’s position as the world’s reserve currency.
Washington produced a similar outcome. AP election results showed incumbent Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Kim Schrier and Marilyn Strickland all won their party primaries. Republican Amanda McKinney also advanced in her district.
Protect Progress, Fairshake’s Democratic-focused affiliate, spent about $113,120 supporting DelBene, $105,040 backing Schrier and $103,020 for Strickland, Tech Influence Watch records show. McKinney received nearly $506,917 from Defend American Jobs.
The latest victories add to a series of primary wins for candidates backed by crypto-funded political committees during the 2026 election cycle.
Earlier this year, Fairshake-backed groups spent millions in Maryland, New York and Utah. Federal Election Commission filings showed Protect Progress directed more than $5.5 million toward Maryland state Delegate Adrian Boafo’s Democratic primary campaign and more than $1.4 million to support New York Representative Ritchie Torres ahead of his primary race. Defend American Jobs also spent more than $400,000 supporting Republican Representative Blake Moore in Utah.
Campaign disclosures from June showed Fairshake affiliates spending more than $12 million during Alabama’s Republican primary runoff, where Barry Moore secured victory after what the organization described as its largest spending effort of the election cycle. The PAC also backed Democratic Representative Christian Menefee, who defeated longtime Congressman Al Green in Texas’ Democratic primary runoff in May.
Fairshake has remained one of the crypto industry’s biggest political organizations since the 2024 campaign cycle. Back in January, the committee announced it had accumulated $193 million ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, giving it substantial resources to support congressional candidates viewed as favorable toward digital asset policy.
The organization receives financial backing from major crypto companies and investors, including Coinbase and Andreessen Horowitz, and has divided much of its election activity between Protect Progress for Democratic candidates and Defend American Jobs for Republicans. Federal campaign finance filings reviewed throughout June showed both affiliates concentrating spending on competitive congressional races where outside political advertising could influence primary contests.
Much of Fairshake’s campaign activity has unfolded while Congress continues debating legislation that would establish a federal framework for digital assets. Lawmakers are still negotiating the CLARITY Act, with Senate offices working through committee language, ethics provisions and anti-money laundering safeguards before Congress’ legislative calendar became more crowded.
Industry groups have also increased their engagement with lawmakers during the negotiations. The Digital Chamber organized meetings between member companies and members of Congress, while White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt and Senator Bill Hagerty both expressed optimism that lawmakers could continue advancing the legislation.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman said many lawmakers were still working to understand the proposal, a factor he said had complicated efforts to build broader congressional support because significant portions of the legislation fall under the committee’s jurisdiction.
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