Crypto PACs spend $8M on US primary races in New York, Maryland, Utah

Protect Progress leads spending in Maryland and New York

Protect Progress, an affiliate of Fairshake supporting Democratic candidates, reported more than $516,000 on media for April McClain Delaney in Maryland's 6th congressional district. The group's broader footprint is larger: it reported combined expenditures of more than $5.5 million in Maryland and $1.4 million in New York for primary races in the states' 5th and 15th congressional districts.

In Maryland's 5th district, Protect Progress deployed spending selectively. The group spent about $24,000 on ads to oppose Quincy Bareebe and $74,000 for media opposing Harry Dunn, both candidates running in the same primary.

Candidates push back on crypto money

The spending hasn't gone uncontested. Harry Dunn, Quincy Bareebe, and Rushern Baker, all running in Maryland's 5th district, issued a joint statement on June 15 against the "influence of dark money and special interests" in their race. Their statement signals growing friction between crypto-aligned groups and traditional Democratic operatives in the state.

In New York's 15th congressional district, crypto money is also visible. The Fellowship PAC, backed by $11 million from Cantor Fitzgerald and Anchorage, disclosed $300,000 in spending to support Ritchie Torres.

Republican focus in Utah; Arizona and Colorado next

Defend American Jobs, another Fairshake affiliate, reported spending more than $400,000 on Republican Blake Moore's primary in Utah's 2nd congressional district.

Crypto PACs show no signs of slowing. Colorado and Arizona are scheduled to hold primaries on June 30 and July 21, respectively, with crypto-aligned PACs expected to focus attention there. The pattern mirrors 2024 spending: Fairshake and its affiliates poured more than $10 million into media to support Ruben Gallego's Senate race in Arizona and spent $2.1 million for Democratic Representative Yadira Caraveo in Colorado's 8th district.