Crypto PAC pours nearly $1M into Michigan race backing Thanedar

A crypto-backed political action committee has spent nearly $1 million in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District Democratic primary as the industry continues directing money toward candidates it views as supportive of digital asset policy. Summary Protect Progress spent nearly $1 million backing Thanedar while funding opposition advertising against Donavan McKinney. Thanedar backed major crypto bills, making him a repeat target for support from industry-funded groups. Fairshake affiliates continue spending across U.S. primaries as crypto policy becomes a growing election issue. Protect Progress, an affiliate of the Fairshake network, reported more than $986,000 in spending tied to Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar and his challenger, Michigan state Rep. Donavan McKinney, according to Federal Election Commission filings published this week. The primary is scheduled for Aug. 4. The spending includes advertising supporting Thanedar and opposing McKinney. Protect Progress took a similar approach during the 2024 election, when it spent more than $1 million supporting Thanedar before he won the Democratic primary with 54.9% of the vote. He later won the general election with 68.6%. Thanedar ...