Crypto PAC pours $1M into Michigan Democratic primary race

An affiliate of the Fairshake cryptocurrency-aligned political action committee (PAC), called Protect Progress, has spent nearly $1 million on media advertisements ahead of the August 4 Democratic primary for Michigan’s 13th congressional district. The spending supports the incumbent Democrat Shri Thanedar and opposes his challenger Donavan McKinney. This follows a similar campaign by Protect Progress in 2024, when it also spent about $1 million backing Thanedar, who subsequently won the primary with 54.9% of the vote and the general election with 68.6%. Fairshake and its affiliates reportedly have $191 million available to influence voter decisions in key elections.

The PAC’s involvement is significant due to Thanedar’s record of supporting crypto-related legislation in Congress, including the CLARITY Act, the GENIUS Act, and the Promoting Innovation in Blockchain Development Act. Thanedar also invested $3.7 million of his campaign funds in crypto companies but reported losses of more than $600,000 in the second quarter of 2026. In contrast, challenger Donavan McKinney has not publicly supported or opposed digital assets and criticized the incumbent for his ties to the crypto industry and its financial success under former President Donald Trump.

Beyond Michigan, Protect Progress spent over $100,000 on media to support Democratic Representative Greg Stanton in Arizona’s 4th district, where Stanton also backed key crypto bills and recently won his primary with 65% of the vote. Another Fairshake affiliate, Defend American Jobs PAC, has spent over $65,000 to support Amanda McKinney, a Republican candidate who supports crypto in Washington state’s 4th district ahead of the August 4 primary following incumbent Dan Newhouse’s decision to not seek reelection.

This coordinated spending by crypto-aligned PACs like Fairshake’s affiliates aims to help elect candidates considered “pro-crypto” to the U.S. Congress, continuing a broader industry effort to influence policymaking in favor of digital assets and blockchain innovation. Cointelegraph notes these developments as part of ongoing coverage on the growing role of crypto lobbying in American elections and legislation.