An affiliate of the cryptocurrency-aligned political action committee Fairshake is spending roughly $1 million on media to influence the Democratic primary race in Michigan's 13th Congressional District.

According to filings with the US Federal Election Commission (FEC) as of Tuesday, the Protect Progress PAC had spent more than $986,000 on advertisements supporting Democratic incumbent Shri Thanedar and opposing his challenger, Donavan McKinney. The expenditures were reported two weeks before the August 4 Democratic primary, which will determine who advances to the November general election.

The spending mirrors Protect Progress' strategy from the 2024 cycle, when the PAC allocated approximately $1 million in support of Thanedar. In that election, Thanedar won the Democratic primary with 54.9% of the vote before defeating Republican and third-party challengers in November with 68.6%.

Fairshake and its affiliated PACs reported holding $191 million in funds available to influence voters in key races. These committees represent a broader network of industry-aligned groups working to elect candidates they regard as supportive of cryptocurrency policy. Other such groups include Fellowship, backed by Cantor Fitzgerald and Anchorage Digital, as well as the Blockchain Leadership Fund, a hybrid PAC backed by Anchorage and Chainlink Labs. Under US campaign finance rules, outside groups may make independent expenditures for or against candidates, with spending disclosed through FEC filings.

Contrasting Records on Digital Asset Policy

McKinney did not challenge Thanedar in 2024 and does not appear to have made significant public statements either supporting or opposing digital assets. Thanedar, by contrast, has voted in favor of multiple crypto-related bills during his tenure in the House of Representatives, including the CLARITY Act, the GENIUS Act, and the Promoting Innovation in Blockchain Development Act. Those votes place him among lawmakers who have supported congressional efforts to define regulatory treatment for digital asset markets and blockchain-related activity. He also reportedly lost more than $600,000 in the second quarter of 2026 after investing $3.7 million in campaign funds into cryptocurrency companies.

In a Tuesday statement responding to the PAC's spending, McKinney said: "Shri has voted for every bill [Donald] Trump and the crypto lobby have brought to Congress."

McKinney added: "The crypto lobby is paying my opponent back for helping Trump make over $1 billion since taking office."

PAC Activity Extends to Arizona and Washington

Beyond Michigan, Protect Progress has spent more than $100,000 on media supporting Representative Greg Stanton's reelection bid in Arizona. Stanton, like Thanedar, voted in favor of the CLARITY and GENIUS Acts in the House. He won his primary on Tuesday for Arizona's 4th Congressional District with 65% of the vote.

Washington state's party primaries, also scheduled for August 4, could see involvement from another Fairshake affiliate. According to FEC filings, the Defend American Jobs PAC spent more than $65,000 on media supporting Amanda McKinney, a Republican candidate for Washington's 4th Congressional District who has publicly expressed support for cryptocurrency. Representative Dan Newhouse announced in 2025 that he would not seek reelection in the district.

The activity shows how crypto-aligned political groups are continuing to target both Democratic and Republican contests, with primary races serving as an early test of whether digital asset policy records can attract outside financial support before the general election campaign begins.