Crypto industry-backed political spending has ramped up in the Ohio Senate race, with Fairshake transferring more than $24 million to its affiliate Defend American Jobs in September. Defend American Jobs then spent about $24 million in the Ohio contest during the same month.
September spending centered on Jon Husted and ads against Sherrod Brown
According to the source material, roughly $18.6 million of that September spending was used to support Jon Husted, the Republican incumbent in the Senate race. Another $5.7 million went toward opposing Sherrod Brown, the Democratic candidate for the seat.
Defend American Jobs kept spending in October. The group continued putting money into efforts opposing Brown and supporting Husted, and it also added spending against Dan Osborn, the independent candidate in the Nebraska Senate race.
Brown and Husted have taken different positions on crypto
Brown has previously opposed the crypto industry, describing crypto as 「speculative products run by reckless companies we know that’s true that put Americans’ hard-earned money at risk, not surprising from an industry that was created to skirt the rules」.
Husted has been a vocal supporter of the Clarity Act. In a statement cited in the source, he said, 「The Clarity Act would create strong rules for cryptocurrency, protect consumers, and strengthen America’s leadership in digital assets. We need to get it done.」
Total spending in the cycle has passed $46 million
In total, Defend American Jobs has spent more than $46 million in the Ohio Senate race this cycle. That has already exceeded the $40 million it spent supporting Bernie Moreno in 2024.
Defend American Jobs has also been joined by the Digital Freedom Fund in crypto industry election spending. The Digital Freedom Fund, which gets most of its support from the Winklevoss Capital Fund, has spent an additional $5.9 million in the Ohio Senate race, backing Husted and opposing Brown.