Stand With Crypto, the advocacy group launched by Coinbase in 2023, has announced its picks for the next session of the US Congress as midterm elections draw near. The endorsements cover several Senate candidates and dozens of House races, and they arrive after a rough stretch for the crypto industry on Capitol Hill.
The group endorsed Republican Jon Husted in Ohio, Republican Ashley Hinson in Iowa, and Democrat Chris Pappas in New Hampshire. It also backed several House candidates, including Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa and Democrat Shomari Figures in Alabama. Stand With Crypto endorsed 32 House candidates in August, calling them “proven digital asset policy champions.”
The timing matters. There are 34 days until the midterm elections, and the crypto industry is pushing hard to shape the next Congress ahead of key policy fights.
Failed Clarity Vote
The endorsements come weeks after a major setback for crypto-friendly legislation. The Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, a crypto market structure bill, failed to get enough votes in the Republican-controlled Senate earlier this month for a crucial cloture motion.
The bill passed the House with bipartisan support in 2025. But in the Senate, where Republicans hold the majority, the vote fell short. After the failed CLARITY vote on Sept. 15, Stand With Crypto warned of “consequences” for lawmakers who did not support the bill.
Ohio Race That Matters
Ohio is the race to watch. Husted is defending his Senate seat against Democrat Sherrod Brown, who lost to Republican Bernie Moreno in 2024 after outside groups spent more than $300 million in Ohio.
The spending was unprecedented. Outside groups poured money into that race.
Stand With Crypto is now backing Husted, the Republican incumbent, over Brown in this year’s contest.
The Fairshake PAC, largely backed by contributions from Coinbase, Ripple Labs and Andreessen Horowitz, pledged to initially spend $30 million supporting Husted over Brown in Ohio. As of June, the PAC had spent $82 million on candidates across the country.
The PAC’s role is significant. It is funding the campaign directly, and its support behind Husted signals where the crypto industry wants its influence placed.
Endorsement Rollout
The endorsements were announced on Wednesday. Stand With Crypto’s picks span both parties and multiple states, reflecting the group’s strategy of building support across the political spectrum.
The group’s August endorsement of 32 House candidates shows the scale of its operation. By backing candidates in both chambers, Stand With Crypto is positioning itself as a force in Washington for the next two years.
The group’s warning after the CLARITY vote suggests it is not shy about holding lawmakers accountable. The message to lawmakers is clear: support crypto, or face consequences.
Midterms Landscape
Polls show Democrats are favored to regain control of the House and Senate in 2027. That could change the landscape for crypto legislation.
A Democratic-controlled Congress might move faster on some issues, but it could also bring stricter scrutiny. The industry is betting that Republican control, which failed to deliver on CLARITY, is not the only path to progress.
The coming months will test whether the endorsements translate into wins. The group’s ability to mobilize voters and resources will determine whether it can shift the balance in its favor.
Industry Stakes
The crypto industry has spent years trying to gain legitimacy in Washington. The CLARITY Act was a test of that effort.
Stand With Crypto sees clear, common-sense regulation as necessary for the industry to survive. The group is working to build support across both parties and multiple states.
The endorsements are a statement of intent, but they are not votes.
| Candidate | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Jon Husted | Republican | Senate |
| Ashley Hinson | Republican | Senate |
| Chris Pappas | Democrat | Senate |
| Mariannette Miller-Meeks | Republican | House |
| Shomari Figures | Democrat | House |
Where the paper stands
The paper backs Stand With Crypto’s endorsements of Jon Husted, Ashley Hinson, Chris Pappas, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Shomari Figures, as each candidate appears to push decisions back toward citizens rather than toward Washington’s growing control over digital assets, and against any agency or office seeking to gather more power. The CLARITY Act’s failure shows how much power now rests in one place, and these picks aim to keep that power from settling there permanently.
The endorsements span both parties and multiple states, showing the group’s strategy of building support across the political spectrum. Stand With Crypto’s August endorsement of 32 House candidates shows the scale of its operation. The group’s warning after the CLARITY vote shows it is not shy about holding lawmakers accountable, and its message to lawmakers is clear: support crypto, or face consequences.
The reader should watch for whether these endorsements translate into wins. The group’s ability to mobilize voters and resources will determine whether it can shift the balance in its favor. The coming months will test whether the industry’s deep pockets and clear agenda are enough to rewrite the law.
Key Facts Box
- Stand With Crypto endorsed 32 House candidates in August
- Fairshake PAC pledged $30 million to support Husted over Brown in Ohio
- Fairshake PAC spent $82 million on candidates as of June
- CLARITY Act failed to pass the Senate earlier this month
- Polls show Democrats favored to regain control of both chambers in 2027
The stakes are high. The midterms will determine which party controls the agenda for the next two years, and crypto is positioning itself to be part of that conversation.
The coming months will be a test of whether the endorsements translate into wins. The group’s ability to mobilize voters and resources will determine whether it can shift the balance in its favor.
The CLARITY Act’s failure was a setback, but it was not a defeat. The industry has deep pockets and a clear agenda. The next Congress will show whether those tools are enough to rewrite the law.
Source material: “Crypto advocacy group announces picks for US Congress as midterms loom,” Cointelegraph.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.