Political action committees tied to the cryptocurrency industry scored multiple primary victories Tuesday after spending roughly $20 million on supportive media in several state contests. The effort was led by Fairshake PAC and affiliate groups largely funded by crypto firms such as Ripple Labs and Coinbase.
Fairshake operates through two main vehicles: Defend American Jobs, which backed Republican hopefuls, and Protect Progress, which supported Democrats the PAC considers pro-crypto. Committee spokespeople described the results as a bipartisan boost for candidates favorable to digital-asset policy.
According to Federal Election Commission filings, Protect Progress spent more than $4.2 million supporting Georgia state representative Jasmine Clark in the 13th Congressional District. Defend American Jobs reported media expenditures backing multiple Republican hopefuls: about $455,000 for Clay Fuller in Georgia’s 14th district, $709,000 for Houston Gaines in the 10th, $431,000 for Jim Kingston in the 1st, and roughly $7.2 million to support Andy Barr in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race.
Those investments helped deliver four Republican primary wins and one Democratic primary win across Georgia and Kentucky. In Alabama, candidate Barry Moore — who benefited from approximately $7.4 million in support from Defend American Jobs — did not secure a majority and is headed to a runoff against state Attorney General Steve Marshall and Republican Jared Hudson.
Protect Progress has also been active in Texas, increasing spending for Democratic candidate Christian Menefee in his challenge to incumbent Al Green in the 18th Congressional District. FEC records show the PAC spent more than $4.1 million supporting Menefee and more than $2.8 million on media opposing Green, who has expressed anti-crypto positions and voted against several digital-asset measures. Earlier this year Protect Progress reportedly spent over $1.5 million opposing Green in a March contest that also failed to produce a majority winner, triggering the current runoff.
Fairshake and its affiliates have signaled plans to spend heavily again in 2026, aiming to oppose anti-crypto candidates and back pro-crypto leaders. The organization reported holding about $193 million for future political activity, a war chest far larger than the roughly $130 million it spent on media and ads during the 2024 cycle.
The PACs have not always prevailed despite large expenditures. For example, Fairshake reportedly spent about $8 million opposing Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton in a U.S. Senate primary, but she still won with more than 40 percent of the vote.
The recent primary outcomes illustrate the growing influence of crypto-aligned political spending at the state level and set a possible blueprint for expanded involvement ahead of the 2026 midterms. The results and spending figures are based on FEC filings and statements from the groups involved.
