Fairshake’s Republican affiliate has reported $46.67 million in spending opposing Sherrod Brown and supporting Jon Husted in Ohio’s Senate race, exceeding the crypto-backed network’s initial $30 million commitment by 55.6%.
Summary
- $46.67 million in Ohio spending exceeds Fairshake’s initial pledge by $16.67 million.
- Digital Freedom Fund has reported a separate $5.94 million in Ohio expenditures.
- The two committees’ combined spending in the Senate contest has reached $52.61 million.
- Defend American Jobs has reported $6.72 million opposing Nebraska Senate candidate Dan Osborn.
The Federal Election Commission filing submitted Oct. 15 by Defend American Jobs lists cumulative Ohio expenditures of $46,672,296.18, covering advertisements against the former Democratic senator and media supporting the Republican incumbent.
Digital Freedom Fund, a separate super PAC established by Gemini co-founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, reported cumulative Ohio spending of $5,940,397.25 in its Oct. 11 disclosure. Together, the two committees’ reported expenditures in the Brown-Husted contest total $52,612,693.43.
The latest filings distinguish the groups’ purchases. Defend American Jobs reported media buying and production, while Digital Freedom Fund’s newly disclosed $2.97 million covered direct-mail printing and postage.
Fairshake spending exceeds its September pledge by $16.67 million
As crypto.news previously reported on Sep. 21, Fairshake committed to spend at least $30 million opposing Brown’s return to the Senate, its largest announced allocation of the 2026 election cycle at that point.
The latest cumulative figure puts Defend American Jobs’ Ohio spending $16,672,296.18 above that pledge. Dividing the difference by the original $30 million commitment produces a 55.6% gain.
The Oct. 15 filing lists nearly $11 million in media purchases through Main Street Media Group supporting Husted and opposing Brown, alongside $24,450 in production payments to Dockside Strategies.
Coinbase, Ripple Labs and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz are among the Fairshake network’s financial backers, according to the September report. Defend American Jobs participates in Republican races, while affiliated committee Protect Progress supports Democrats.
Brown is seeking a Senate comeback after losing his previous seat to Republican Bernie Moreno in November 2024. The September account identified Brown’s former position as Senate Banking Committee chairman and his opposition to several industry-backed policies among the reasons crypto groups targeted the contest.
Husted entered the Senate in January 2025 after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine appointed him to replace JD Vance, who left to become vice president. According to that earlier report, the winner of November’s special election will complete the remaining portion of Vance’s term through January 2029.
Winklevoss-backed fund reports $2.97 million in direct mail
Digital Freedom Fund’s Oct. 11 filing lists two payments to Minute Mail Consulting Group for printing and postage, with dissemination dates of Oct. 8.
One entry reports $990,066.19 supporting Husted. The other records $1,980,132.39 opposing Brown, bringing the newly disclosed purchases to $2,970,198.58.
The filing’s cumulative Ohio total reaches $5,940,397.25 after those expenditures.
The FEC classifies both Digital Freedom Fund and Defend American Jobs as independent expenditure-only political committees. Its committee pages explain that independent expenditures support or oppose candidates without giving funds directly to their campaigns.
Brown discussed the industry-funded campaign during an Oct. 16 appearance on Pod Save America. According to Cointelegraph’s account of the interview, he compared the advertisements with his previous disputes with Wall Street, pharmaceutical companies, and oil businesses, and accused the industry of favoring Husted.
Outside Ohio, Defend American Jobs’ Oct. 15 filing reports cumulative spending of $6,723,909.96 opposing Nebraska independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn.
The disclosure includes a $6,710,959.96 media purchase through Main Street Media Group and $12,950 in production costs through Dockside Strategies. Osborn is challenging Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts.
Fairshake’s House slate includes lawmakers who backed CLARITY
Fairshake announced a separate $6 million House spending plan on Oct. 5, allocating $1 million each to six incumbents as part of its support for a 32-member slate.
The initial recipients were Democrats Janelle Bynum, Derek Tran and Steven Horsford, alongside Republicans French Hill, Bill Huizenga and Bryan Steil. The full list comprised 19 Republicans and 13 Democrats, according to the announcement.
Fairshake said every incumbent on its slate voted for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, the proposal to establish federal digital-asset market rules and divide oversight between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
The bill’s Senate setback involved a procedural vote before debate, not a vote on final passage, as an Oct. 8 examination explained.
The official Senate roll call records 49 votes supporting cloture on the motion to proceed and 50 opposing it on Sep. 15, short of the required 60. The Senate’s floor record states that Sen. Thom Tillis entered a motion to reconsider the failed vote.
For primaries and special elections earlier in the cycle, Fairshake spokesperson Geoff Vetter told the Associated Press that the network spent $40 million supporting 29 Democrats and $31 million supporting 28 Republicans. He said its preferred candidates won 53 of the 57 contests it entered.
For primaries and special elections earlier in the cycle, Fairshake spokesperson Geoff Vetter told the Associated Press that the network spent $40 million supporting 29 Democrats and $31 million supporting 28 Republicans. He said its preferred candidates won 53 of the 57 contests it entered.