Crypto Super PAC Fairshake Plans $30 Million Campaign Against Sherrod Brown in Ohio
Fairshake Targets Sherrod Brown With $30 Million Ohio Campaign
Fairshake, a super PAC funded by major cryptocurrency companies, plans to spend $30 million to oppose former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in Ohio, according to reporting from Politico. The super PAC confirmed the plan. This comes days after the Senate blocked a key crypto regulation bill.
Brown is challenging Republican Senator Jon Husted in a race that could help determine which party controls the Senate. Husted, a former lieutenant governor of Ohio, was appointed to the Senate in January 2025 to replace JD Vance after Vance became vice president.
Key Numbers Behind Fairshake's Ohio Push
- Fairshake plans to spend $30 million to oppose Brown in Ohio
- The group previously spent roughly $40 million to help defeat Brown in 2024
- Fairshake raised $116 million for the 2026 elections by January 2025
- The group reported $108 million remaining by the end of August
- The Senate vote to advance the Clarity Act fell 49-50, well short of the 60 votes needed
Senate Rejects the Clarity Act
The Senate voted against cloture on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, a bill that would set federal rules for crypto markets and divide oversight between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). All Democrats present voted against advancing the bill, along with Republican Senators Susan Collins, Josh Hawley, and Jerry Moran. Republican Senator Thom Tillis changed his vote to "no" for procedural reasons, allowing the bill to be reintroduced later. The vote left little time to revive the legislation before the November 3 midterm elections.
How Fairshake Funds and Runs Its Campaigns
Fairshake is primarily funded by Coinbase, Ripple, and Andreessen Horowitz. The group says it supports candidates from both parties who favor crypto-friendly policies. However, its advertisements often avoid discussing cryptocurrency directly and instead focus on issues more likely to influence voters. Fairshake used this approach during the 2024 election and in recent congressional primaries.
Why This Matters for Crypto Policy
Brown's crypto skepticism and his leadership of the Senate Banking Committee made him a major target for the crypto industry. His campaign manager, Patrick Eisenhauer, called the spending a sign that "special interests are panicking" and trying to protect a system that Brown opposes. Separately, Coinbase-backed advocacy group Stand With Crypto warned of electoral consequences after the Senate vote and said it would track senators' votes on its lawmaker scorecards while mobilizing supporters ahead of the election.
Sources
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