The most recent filings effectively doubled what the PAC had reported spending<\/a> a week prior, with an additional $884,240 on ads to support Thanedar and more than $150,000 to oppose McKinney. <\/p>\n Source: <\/em>FEC<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n During his time in the US House of Representatives, Thanedar voted in favor of the stablecoin-focused GENIUS Act legislation and the crypto market structure bill currently under consideration in the Senate, the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act. He also cosponsored the Promoting Innovation in Blockchain Development Act in an effort to protect developers.\u00a0<\/p>\n In a July 21 statement on the PAC spending supporting Thanedar, McKinney said<\/a> \u201cthe crypto lobby is paying my opponent back for helping Trump make over $1 billion since taking office.\u201d He was likely referring to the US President disclosing that he earned more than $1.4 billion from crypto investments<\/a> in 2025, including from his memecoin, Official Trump (TRUMP) and through his family\u2019s business, World Liberty Financial. Many Democrats have accused Trump of using his position to profit from the presidency through laws like GENIUS.<\/p>\n Cointelegraph reached out to Thanedar\u2019s and McKinney\u2019s campaigns for comment on the PAC expenditures but did not receive an immediate response.<\/p>\n Related: <\/strong><\/em>US senators sent revised ethics rules to White House for CLARITY Act: Report<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Protect Progress is an affiliate of the Fairshake PAC, which was responsible for spending more than $170 million in the 2024 US election cycle through media supporting candidates it considered favoring crypto industry-aligned policies. The Michigan primary is scheduled for Tuesday, but the PAC and its affiliates have already poured millions of dollars into 2026 races in Texas, Illinois and other states.<\/p>\n The US consumer advocacy group Public Citizen reported in June that Fairshake and its affiliates were responsible for spending more than $82 million<\/a> out of the roughly $189 million crypto companies had used in the 2026 election cycle. Fairshake reported holding a $193 million war chest as of January.<\/p>\n In addition to Michigan\u2019s primaries, the Fairshake affiliate Defend American Jobs PAC spent more than $65,000 on media to support a Republican running in Washington\u2019s 4th congressional, according to FEC filings. Washington is scheduled to hold primaries the same day as Michigan.<\/p>\n Alabama, scheduled to hold primaries on Aug. 11, has also been a focus for Fairshake. FEC filings showed that Defend American Jobs spent<\/a> more than $511,000 on media to support Jerry Carl Jr., a Republican who represented the state\u2019s 1st congressional district from 2021 to 2025. Notably, the former Alabama lawmaker was one of the wealthiest in the state\u2019s House delegation, with a reported<\/a> net worth of up to $15 million in 2023.<\/p>\n Magazine: <\/strong><\/em>Crypto lobby spending on Republicans far outpaces Democratic support<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> Bitcoin price<\/a> \u00b7 BTC live chart<\/a> \u00b7 Ethereum price<\/a> \u00b7 ETH gas fee<\/a> \u00b7 Bitcoin price today<\/a> \u00b7 Top 10 cryptocurrencies<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s3-images.ctmedia.io\/media\/content\/screenshot-2026-08-01-at-100845-am.png\")
<\/p>\nPAC spending in Washington and Alabama with primaries looming<\/h2>\n