Crypto PAC Fairshake adds Michigan and Washington victories to 2026 election run

Crypto-backed PACs have helped several pro-crypto congressional candidates secure party nominations in Michigan and Washington after directing hundreds of thousands of dollars into this week’s U.S. primary races.

Summary

• Crypto backed PACs helped several pro crypto candidates win party primaries in Michigan and Washington.
• Fairshake affiliates spent hundreds of thousands of dollars supporting both Republican and Democratic congressional candidates.
• The latest primary victories add to a series of wins for candidates backed by crypto industry funding during the 2026 election cycle.
• Fairshake entered the 2026 midterms with a reported $193 million war chest after emerging as one of the largest political spenders in crypto.

According to the Associated Press election results and campaign finance data compiled by Tech Influence Watch, Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga won Michigan’s Republican primary, while Democratic Reps. Suzan DelBene, Kim Schrier and Marilyn Strickland, along with Republican Amanda McKinney, advanced from Washington after receiving support from political action committees affiliated with the crypto industry.

Fairshake-backed candidates move closer to November elections

Michigan’s 4th Congressional District delivered one of the latest victories for Fairshake-backed candidates. Huizenga secured the Republican nomination after receiving nearly $512,000 in support from Defend American Jobs, the Republican-aligned affiliate of crypto-backed PAC Fairshake, according to Tech Influence Watch. His campaign also received backing from Andreessen Horowitz, Winklevoss Capital and Coinbase.

Seeking another term in Congress, Huizenga will now face Democratic challenger Sean McCann in the November general election.

Huizenga has consistently backed digital asset legislation during his time in Congress. Speaking during a House hearing on stablecoins in March 2025, he 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 for candidates supported by Fairshake affiliates.

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 congressional district.

Campaign finance records tracked by Tech Influence Watch show Protect Progress, Fairshake’s Democratic-focused affiliate, spent about $113,120 supporting DelBene, $105,040 backing Schrier and $103,020 for Strickland. McKinney received nearly $506,917 from Defend American Jobs.

Crypto PAC spending has continued across multiple states

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 of dollars supporting congressional candidates 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 also showed Fairshake affiliates spending more than $12 million during Alabama’s Republican primary runoff, where Barry Moore secured victory after what the organization previously described as its largest spending effort of the election cycle.

More recently, the PAC also backed Democratic Representative Christian Menefee, who defeated longtime Congressman Al Green in Texas’ Democratic primary runoff in May.

Fairshake has built a large election fund

Fairshake has remained one of the crypto industry’s biggest political organizations since becoming a major election spender during 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.

Digital asset policy remains part of the election backdrop

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.

At the same time, 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.