- Crypto-backed political action committees supported three candidates in unresolved US House races.
- Republican incumbents Nick Begich and David Rouzer lead in Alaska and North Carolina, while Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez faces a Dec. 12 runoff.
- Stand With Crypto says the next Congress will include opportunities to educate new lawmakers, many of whom have not yet taken a position on blockchain technology.
Crypto-backed candidates lead in two undecided House races
Crypto-focused political action committees backed three candidates in US House races that remain unresolved. Rep. Nick Begich leads Alaska’s House race after Defend American Jobs, Fairshake’s Republican-facing affiliate, spent $508,142 to support him in the August primary.
The same political action committee contributed $150,600 to Rep. David Rouzer, who leads in North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District. Both Begich and Rouzer are incumbents seeking to retain their seats in races that have not yet been called.
In Louisiana, state Sen. Blake Miguez will face Democrat Chauna Banks in a Dec. 12 runoff for the state’s 6th Congressional District. The Fellowship PAC backed Miguez with $250,000, making the Louisiana contest the remaining race in which a crypto-supported candidate must compete in a subsequent election.
Stand With Crypto expands House tally
The Associated Press called South Carolina’s 2nd District race for incumbent Rep. Joe Wilson on the morning of Nov. 11. Stand With Crypto rates Wilson as “strongly supportive of crypto.” His victory increased the organization’s House tally to 246 crypto supporters and 107 opponents. In the Senate, the group lists 50 supporters and 33 opponents.
For the remaining House races, Stand With Crypto lists each candidate as either strongly supportive of crypto or having no stated position. “The new members that have no stance present an opportunity,” Blockchain Association Chief Policy Officer Lindsay Fraser told Cointelegraph.
Industry plans outreach to incoming lawmakers
Nearly one in four members of the incoming Congress will be new, Fraser said, and many have given little thought to blockchain technology. “To us, that represents a blank slate in terms of education,” she said.
The Blockchain Association is planning a January fly-in to engage newly elected lawmakers. Fraser said the organization would consider it a major achievement to increase the number of legislators in Stand With Crypto’s top rating categories. “Leaving the 120th Congress with more members in that A and B category would be a huge success,” she said.
Stand With Crypto gives an A rating to candidates who strongly support crypto and a B rating to those who are somewhat supportive. Fraser said lawmakers’ age is a more significant factor than party affiliation in determining how they vote on crypto-related issues. According to Fraser, members younger than 55 are much more likely to support the industry, and the incoming class skews younger.
Why This Matters
The unresolved House races will determine whether crypto-backed candidates add to the industry’s representation in Congress. The results will also shape the audience for the Blockchain Association’s planned January outreach, particularly as a significant share of incoming lawmakers have limited experience with blockchain technology or have not yet stated a position on crypto.
Fraser said the industry should enter the 2028 election “with two candidates who […] are thoughtful in regards to the industry,” allowing the sector to avoid “living and dying by the outcome of that election.” Her comments point to an effort to build broader and more durable political support rather than rely on the result of a single election.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which candidates received crypto PAC backing?
Defend American Jobs backed Rep. Nick Begich with $508,142 and Rep. David Rouzer with $150,600. The Fellowship PAC backed Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez with $250,000.
Which House races remain undecided?
Nick Begich leads in Alaska, David Rouzer leads in North Carolina’s 7th District, and Blake Miguez will face Democrat Chauna Banks in a Dec. 12 runoff for Louisiana’s 6th District.
How many crypto supporters does Stand With Crypto list in Congress?
After the Associated Press called Rep. Joe Wilson’s South Carolina race, Stand With Crypto listed 246 crypto supporters and 107 opponents in the House, alongside 50 supporters and 33 opponents in the Senate.
