Pro-crypto U.S. representatives won party primaries in Michigan and Washington on Tuesday after receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from crypto industry political action committees. Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga secured Michigan's Republican nomination with nearly $512,000 from Defend American Jobs, Fairshake's Republican-facing PAC, according to the AP elections portal and Tech Influence Watch. The wins demonstrate continued influence of crypto-focused PACs in the 2026 election cycle, with Fairshake having amassed $193 million in January ahead of November midterms.
Bill Huizenga Wins Michigan Republican Primary with $512K Crypto PAC Support
Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga secured his party's nomination in Michigan, according to the AP elections portal. Huizenga received nearly $512,000 from Defend American Jobs, Fairshake's Republican-facing PAC, according to political funding tracker Tech Influence Watch. A16z, Winklevoss Capital and Coinbase also backed his campaign.
Huizenga, who is seeking another term, will face off against Democratic Sen. Sean McCann in November. Huizenga said in March 2025 that it is essential to provide regulatory clarity for crypto assets. "As legislators, it's ultimately up to us to provide the regulatory clarity needed to ensure that the U.S. dollar remains the dominant reserve currency, and I believe stablecoins can do that," Huizenga said at a House hearing on stablecoins in March 2025.
Four Washington Candidates Advance with Fairshake Affiliate Backing
Incumbent Democratic Reps. Suzan DelBene, Kim Schrier and Marilyn Strickland all won their party primaries in Washington, while Republican Amanda McKinney also advanced in her district, according to the AP. All four candidates received backing from Fairshake affiliates, according to Tech Influence Watch data.
Protect Progress, Fairshake's Democratic-aligned affiliate, spent $113,120 supporting DelBene, $105,040 supporting Schrier, and $103,020 supporting Strickland. McKinney received $506,917 from Defend American Jobs.
Fairshake PAC Maintains $193M War Chest for 2026 Midterms
Fairshake, the crypto-focused political action committee supported by firms including Coinbase and a16z, has remained a major force in the 2026 election cycle after emerging as a large political spender in 2024. In January, the PAC said it had amassed $193 million ahead of the November midterms.
The PAC has already claimed several victories this cycle, including backing pro-crypto Democratic Rep. Christian Menefee, who unseated longstanding Rep. Al Green in the Democratic primary runoff in Texas in May.
FAQ
How much did Fairshake affiliates spend supporting Michigan Rep. Bill Huizenga?
Defend American Jobs, Fairshake's Republican-facing PAC, provided nearly $512,000 to support Bill Huizenga's campaign in Michigan, according to Tech Influence Watch. A16z, Winklevoss Capital and Coinbase also backed his campaign.
Which Washington candidates received Fairshake PAC backing in the primaries?
Four Washington candidates received Fairshake affiliate support: Democratic Reps. Suzan DelBene ($113,120), Kim Schrier ($105,040), and Marilyn Strickland ($103,020) from Protect Progress, and Republican Amanda McKinney ($506,917) from Defend American Jobs, according to Tech Influence Watch data.
