Key facts
- Crypto industry groups spent approximately $176 million across more than 100 races in the 2026 cycle, per Reuters.
- Fairshake, backed by Coinbase, Ripple and Andreessen Horowitz, leads spending through super PACs Defend American Jobs and Protect Progress.
- The Blockchain Association's election dashboard lists 61 priority congressional races: 18 Senate and 43 House contests.
- Ohio's Senate race drew approximately $63 million in crypto industry spending, including about $56 million from Fairshake, per the report.
- Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats and three House seats to take control of the respective chambers.
- Sen. Cynthia Lummis, who chairs the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets, is not seeking reelection in Wyoming.
Americans headed to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for midterm elections covering all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats. Republicans control both chambers, holding 53 Senate seats to 45 Democrats and two independents who caucus with them, along with a narrow House advantage. Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats and three House seats to take control.
Crypto industry groups have spent approximately $176 million across more than 100 races during the 2026 cycle, according to Reuters. Fairshake, backed by Coinbase, Ripple and Andreessen Horowitz, leads the spending through its affiliated super PACs Defend American Jobs and Protect Progress. In early October, Fairshake announced support for 32 incumbent House candidates, 19 Republicans and 13 Democrats, all of whom voted for the CLARITY Act in 2025. Other crypto-aligned groups include the Digital Freedom Fund, backed by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, and Fellowship PAC.
The Blockchain Association's election dashboard identifies 61 priority congressional races, 18 Senate and 43 House, based on competitiveness, candidates' crypto positions and committee membership. In Ohio, Republican Sen. Jon Husted faces Democrat Sherrod Brown in a race that has drawn approximately $63 million in crypto industry spending, including about $56 million from Fairshake and $7 million from the Digital Freedom Fund, according to the report. Crypto advocacy group Stand With Crypto characterizes Brown as strongly opposed to cryptocurrency.
In Nebraska, Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts faces independent Dan Osborn. Fairshake had spent nearly $11 million supporting Ricketts, according to an October 27 report by the Washington Examiner, while Defend American Jobs spent approximately $13.5 million opposing Osborn, according to Federal Election Commission data compiled by Bankrolled as of November 3. Ricketts, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, voted to advance the CLARITY Act out of committee in May and supported a Senate procedural vote on the legislation in September, according to Stand With Crypto.
In Texas, Republican Ken Paxton faces Democrat James Talarico, with the Digital Freedom Fund supporting Paxton. Both candidates hold A ratings from Stand With Crypto. In Wyoming, Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman faces Democrat James Byrd for the seat being vacated by Sen. Cynthia Lummis, who chairs the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets and sponsored the BITCOIN Act of 2025. In Maine, Republican Sen. Susan Collins, one of four Republicans to oppose advancing the CLARITY Act in September, faces Democrat Troy Jackson.