In a bold move to reshape the political landscape, the crypto industry’s foremost political action committee, Fairshake, has unveiled its strategic blueprint, committing significant financial resources to influence pivotal Senate races in Ohio, Arizona, and Michigan. Among these, Ohio emerges as the primary battleground, where the committee has pledged an unprecedented $12 million to unseat the current Senate Banking Committee chairman, Sherrod Brown, a Democrat known for his skepticism toward crypto legislation.
This high-stakes contest in Ohio pits Republican candidate Bernie Moreno, a staunch blockchain advocate, against Sen. Brown, whose tenure has been marked by resistance to advancing crypto-friendly policies within his committee. The $12 million war chest allocated for Moreno’s campaign underscores the crypto industry’s resolve to dethrone a prominent critic and champion a candidate who aligns with its vision for regulatory innovation.
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Fairshake, along with its affiliated PACs, is also making significant investments in Arizona and Michigan, earmarking $3 million for each state. In Arizona, the committee is rallying behind U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), while in Michigan, the focus is on supporting Rep. Elisa Slotkin (D-Mich.) in her Senate bid. Both candidates are perceived as allies in the broader effort to foster a regulatory environment conducive to crypto and blockchain advancements.
“Our mission is unequivocal—back candidates who are committed to fostering innovation, safeguarding American jobs, and forging bipartisan consensus to enact responsible crypto and blockchain regulations,” declared Fairshake spokesperson Josh Vlasto. The organization’s goal is to build a durable, cross-party coalition that recognizes the urgent need for sensible and forward-looking legislation in the digital assets space.
This aggressive push follows Fairshake’s recent announcement to endorse 18 pro-crypto incumbents in the House of Representatives for the upcoming November elections. The committee’s focus has been on Congressional races, with a strategic avoidance of the presidential contest, ensuring a balanced distribution of support across party lines.
Notably, Fairshake and its aligned PACs, including the Democrat-leaning Protect Progress and the Republican-focused Defend American Jobs, are also gearing up for a comprehensive digital ad campaign aimed directly at crypto users. This multifaceted strategy highlights the crypto industry’s growing political clout, rivaling other major U.S. sectors in terms of financial influence in the 2024 elections.
Previously, Fairshake’s most substantial financial intervention was the $10 million effort to thwart Rep. Katie Porter’s (D-Calif.) Senate bid, signaling the committee’s capacity to significantly impact high-profile races. With this latest $12 million commitment in Ohio, the crypto industry is signaling its readiness to assert its influence in the political arena, targeting key figures who stand in the way of a more crypto-friendly regulatory future.