Advocacy Group Shifts Focus After Legislative Setback
Following the U.S. Senate's failure to reach the 60 votes required to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, the American crypto advocacy organization Stand With Crypto (SWC) has unveiled an expanded slate of pro-crypto candidates for the midterm elections. The marquee legislation received 49 yes votes, with many Democratic senators voting against it despite prior concessions.
“Following the Senate’s recent failure to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, Stand With Crypto’s more than three million advocates are shifting their energy and focus fully to ensuring we have pro-crypto champions in office who will carry forward our fight for clear rules of the road,” said Mason Lynaugh, executive director of Stand With Crypto, in a statement.
Bipartisan Support and House Endorsements
The Coinbase-backed organization's endorsed candidate pool is split roughly equally between Democrats and Republicans. SWC has endorsed dozens of bipartisan incumbents and candidates who supported key pro-crypto bills, including sitting House members who voted to pass comprehensive digital asset framework legislation through the House.
Among the newly announced endorsements are:
- Republican Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio, running against former Senate Banking Committee Chair Sherrod Brown
- Senate candidate Ashley Hinson, a Republican in Iowa
- Senate candidate Chris Pappas, a Democrat in New Hampshire
- U.S. Representatives Shomari Figures (D-AL-02) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01)
- Candidates Derek Merrin (R-OH-09) and Janelle Stelson (D-PA-10)
Dozens of sitting Democratic House members who crossed party lines to vote in favor of the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21) and the CLARITY Act also earned the organization's backing. Incumbents who took public positions on digital assets and Web3 innovation in committee hearings, press releases, or the media have similarly secured the group's support.
Planned Advertising Campaigns
In addition to expanding its endorsements, Stand With Crypto announced plans to fund advertisements across six House races ahead of the upcoming midterms. This advertising push includes backing for North Carolina Democratic Representative Don Davis. The organization noted that all of its newly announced House endorsees voted in support of the CLARITY Act when it passed the House last year.
