Crypto PAC Spends $4.2M Backing Jasmine Clark in Ga. Primary

Federal Election Commission filings show Protect Progress, a political action committee affiliated with the Fairshake network, has spent more than $4.2 million on media to support Georgia state Representative Jasmine Clark in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for the 13th Congressional District in suburban Atlanta.

The spending targets Clark as crypto-aligned groups seek to elect candidates they view as favorable to digital-asset policy and regulatory clarity.

Clark completed a questionnaire from Stand With Crypto that described her as expressing strong support for establishing clear legislative and regulatory frameworks for digital assets in the United States. Campaign records and social media show she deleted a March post that said digital assets “are the future and provide long-overdue financial tools for unbanked communities” while Congress considered a market-structure bill for crypto.

Mason Lynaugh, executive director of Stand With Crypto, said the group’s work is aimed at giving supporters “the tools they need to make sure that they make an informed vote and they’re able to cast their ballot on election day for the candidate that is pro-crypto they care about,” and added, “If everyone makes their voices heard … we will have a more pro-crypto Congress than we did this past year.”

FEC filings show Protect Progress has run similar campaigns in other races. The PAC spent more than $2.8 million on media opposing Representative Al Green in Texas’ 18th Congressional District and a similar amount supporting his Democratic challenger, Christian Menefee, after an earlier $1.5 million opposition push in March. Menefee received about 46% of the vote to Green’s 44% in the primary, prompting a May 26 runoff. Menefee has publicly supported blockchain technology; Green voted against industry-backed bills including the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act.

Public records show the Fairshake network spent more than $130 million on media and ads in 2024. The network has backing from crypto firms and has said it will continue heavy ad buys in 2026 to influence congressional races.

Protect Progress and Fairshake funds have not always influenced outcomes. The PAC spent about $8 million opposing Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton in her U.S. Senate primary, and she received more than 40% of the vote, outperforming candidates supported by the network.

Fairshake and Protect Progress say they plan further spending in future election cycles to support candidates who favor clearer crypto rules and to oppose those who vote against industry priorities. A request for comment from Fairshake did not receive an immediate response.