Crypto-backed political action committees have helped a number of candidates who support the industry win or progress through primary contests in Michigan and Washington, extending Fairshake’s influence in the 2026 US election cycle.
Republican Representative Bill Huizenga won the Republican primary in Michigan’s 4th Congressional District, while Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene, Kim Schrier and Marilyn Strickland all secured their party nominations in Washington. Republican Amanda McKinney also advanced in her district.
The results, reported by the Associated Press, were assessed alongside campaign-finance data compiled by Tech Influence Watch. The figures show that crypto-affiliated groups directed hundreds of thousands of dollars towards the candidates during this week’s primaries.
Huizenga received almost $512,000 from Defend American Jobs, the Republican-aligned affiliate of Fairshake, according to Tech Influence Watch. His campaign was also supported by Andreessen Horowitz, Winklevoss Capital and Coinbase.
Huizenga, who is seeking another term in Congress, will face Democratic challenger Sean McCann in November’s general election.
The Michigan representative has regularly supported legislation relating to digital assets. During a House hearing on stablecoins in March 2025, he said lawmakers needed to create clear rules for crypto assets and argued that stablecoins could help strengthen the US dollar’s role as the world’s reserve currency.
Fairshake-linked groups also spent heavily in Washington.
Protect Progress, the organisation’s Democratic-focused affiliate, spent approximately $113,120 supporting DelBene, $105,040 backing Schrier and $103,020 for Strickland. McKinney received nearly $506,917 from Defend American Jobs, according to campaign-finance records tracked by Tech Influence Watch.
The latest results add to a growing list of primary victories for candidates supported by crypto-funded committees during the 2026 election campaign.
Earlier this year, Fairshake-affiliated groups spent millions of dollars in contests in Maryland, New York and Utah. Federal Election Commission filings showed Protect Progress contributed more than $5.5m towards Maryland state Delegate Adrian Boafo’s Democratic primary campaign and more than $1.4m to support New York Representative Ritchie Torres.
Defend American Jobs spent more than $400,000 backing Republican Representative Blake Moore in Utah. Campaign disclosures released in June also showed Fairshake affiliates spending more than $12m during Alabama’s Republican primary runoff, where Barry Moore won after the organisation had described the effort as its biggest spending operation of the election cycle.
The PAC also supported Democratic Representative Christian Menefee, who defeated longtime Congressman Al Green in Texas’ Democratic primary runoff in May.
Fairshake became one of the crypto industry’s most prominent political organisations during the 2024 campaign cycle. In January, it announced that it had accumulated $193m ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, giving it substantial funds to support congressional candidates regarded as favourable to digital-asset policy.
The organisation is backed by major crypto companies and investors, including Coinbase and Andreessen Horowitz. Much of its political activity is divided between Protect Progress, which supports Democratic candidates, and Defend American Jobs, which backs Republicans.
The spending has come as Congress continues to debate legislation intended to create a federal regulatory framework for digital assets.
Senate offices are still negotiating the CLARITY Act, including committee language, ethics provisions and anti-money laundering safeguards, although the wider legislative calendar has become increasingly crowded.
Crypto industry groups have stepped up their lobbying during the negotiations. The Digital Chamber arranged meetings between member companies and members of Congress, while White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt and Senator Bill Hagerty said they remained optimistic that lawmakers could continue making progress.
However, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman said many members were still working to understand the proposal. He said that had made it harder to build wider support in Congress because significant parts of the legislation fall within his committee’s jurisdiction.
