Crypto‑Backed Political Action Committees Invest $9 Million in Texas Primaries, Delivering Cross‑Party Victories

Crypto‑focused political committees are demonstrating expanding bipartisan influence in Texas, having expended over $9 million in this election cycle as Tuesday’s primaries produced multiple victories for candidates endorsed by the industry across both parties.

In the Democratic primary runoff for Texas’s 18th Congressional District, Houston Democrat Christian Menefee overcame fellow Democrat Rep. Al Green. Redistricting guided by Republicans had dismantled Green’s longstanding seat, pitting the House Financial Services Committee member in an uncommon race against another incumbent.

Green had received an “F” rating from the crypto‑advocacy organization Stand With Crypto after opposing key legislation supported by the industry and cautioning that cryptocurrency might undermine U.S. financial leverage overseas.

“Rep. Green’s loss demonstrates that hostility toward crypto carries tangible electoral repercussions,” said Geoff Vetter, a spokesperson for Fairshake, to CoinDesk. “Fairshake proved pivotal in this contest, and we intend to keep aggressively supporting leaders such as Rep. Menefee nationwide.”

In other races, Fairshake’s Republican affiliate, Defend American Jobs, and its Democratic counterpart, Protect Progress, endorsed candidates on opposite sides of the aisle, while the distinct crypto‑focused Fellowship PAC contributed $500,000 to Paxton’s campaign.

In Texas, Defend American Jobs contributed roughly $1.8 million to support four victorious Republican candidates — Jon Bonck ($348,433), Tom Sell ($426,279), Carlos De La Cruz ($581,172) and Alex Mealer ($436,278). These candidates emerged from low‑turnout runoff contests in which the eventual nominees are usually strong favorites in November, rendering them attractive targets for a well‑funded political network.

Although Texas held a single night of primaries, Tuesday’s outcomes indicate that the crypto industry is already mobilizing aggressively, deploying a well‑funded war chest for the 2026 midterms — an election cycle in which Democrats are modestly favored to capture both the House and Senate.

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