Protect Progress spends $2M in Michigan

• Protect Progress has spent more than $2 million supporting Shri Thanedar and opposing Donavan McKinney in Michigan.
• New filings added $884,240 supporting Thanedar and more than $150,000 opposing McKinney.
• The spending comes before Michigan’s 4 August Democratic primary for the 13th Congressional District.

Protect Progress has spent over $2 million supporting Shri Thanedar and opposing Donavan McKinney in Michigan’s Democratic primary.

The latest filings doubled earlier reported spending, adding $884,240 for Thanedar and over $150,000 against McKinney.

“The crypto lobby is paying my opponent back for helping Trump make over $1 billion since taking office,” McKinney said in a 21 July statement.

Thanedar previously supported the GENIUS Act, CLARITY Act and legislation designed to protect blockchain developers.

Michigan’s primary is scheduled for 4 August, while both campaigns had not immediately responded to requests for comment.

Protect Progress is affiliated with Fairshake, which spent over $170 million supporting crypto-aligned candidates during the 2024 election cycle.

Public Citizen reported Fairshake received $82 million of the crypto sector’s $189 million in corporate contributions this election cycle.