Stand With Crypto rolled out its political picks for the 2024 elections, backing 39 candidates in the House and Senate. The group kept things balanced, splitting support between 20 Republicans and 19 Democrats. But they sidestepped some of the hottest Senate races, leaving industry insiders scratching their heads.
Among the big names, John Deaton, a crypto lawyer and Republican Senate candidate, snagged an endorsement in Massachusetts. Deaton’s going head-to-head with Senator Elizabeth Warren, a fierce critic of the crypto space. That matchup alone is bound to heat up the election.
The Missing Senate Endorsements
Stand With Crypto’s silence in Michigan, Arizona, and Ohio was a shocker. These battleground states will decide the Senate’s balance of power, but no endorsements came from the watchdog. And in those states, crypto is front and center of the debate.
Interestingly, this no-show from Stand With Crypto contrasts sharply with Fairshake, the pro-industry PAC with $202 million in play. Fairshake went full degen, throwing millions behind Democratic candidates in Michigan and Arizona. And here’s the twist: their backing even went to folks like Democrat Elissa Slotkin, who wasn’t exactly pro-crypto at first. Slotkin later voted against an SEC anti-crypto rule, crossing party lines and scoring $3 million in Fairshake support. Meanwhile, her opponent, Mike Rogers, cozied up to the crypto community, hoping to steal some thunder.
So why didn’t Stand With Crypto take a stand in these key states? No answers so far. The group hasn’t responded to inquiries from Decrypt, and neither has Fairshake.
Kamala’s Crypto Score Gets a Rework
Stand With Crypto didn’t stop at Senate races. The group also handed out a “B” rating to Vice President Kamala Harris for her comments on digital assets. That rating didn’t last long, though. Critics pointed out Harris barely mentioned crypto, unlike Donald Trump, who earned an “A” after actively courting the industry. After the backlash, Stand With Crypto yanked Harris’s rating entirely, slapping an “N/A” on her.
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