USA04 August, 20262 min read
Donovan McKinney Defeats Shri Thanedar In Michigan 13th Congressional District Primary
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Donovan McKinney defeated incumbent Shri Thanedar in Michigan's 13th Democratic primary. McKinney criticized crypto industry donations that funded Thanedar's campaign.
6 outlets told this the same way.
Michigan primary defeats
In Michigan’s Democratic primary for the 13th Congressional District, progressive challenger Donovan McKinney defeated incumbent U.S. Representative Shri Thanedar with 51.9% of the vote.
Bloomingbit said Thanedar “received more than $2 million in advertising support from a super PAC backed by Coinbase and XRP,” while Cointelegraph reported McKinney accused the crypto industry of “paying my opponent back for helping Trump make over $1 billion since taking office.”
Cointelegraph also said Protect Progress, the super PAC funding ads supporting Thanedar and opposing McKinney, is affiliated with Fairshake, a group backed primarily by crypto companies Coinbase and Ripple.
McKinney is set to face Republican candidate Taras Nykoriak in the November election, according to Cointelegraph.
Cointelegraph reported that McKinney will face off against Taras Nykoriak after Thanedar reportedly lost more than $600,000 in the second quarter of 2026 after investing $3.7 million of campaign funds into crypto companies.
Crypto-backed wins in Washington
In Washington state, several Democratic incumbents with crypto industry backing advanced after winning their primaries, including Representatives Suzan DelBene, Kim Schrier, and Marilyn Strickland. Bitcoin World reported that “All four candidates had previously received support from Fairshake, a crypto-focused super PAC funded by Coinbase and a16z,” while Crypto News said Fairshake affiliates spent “hundreds of thousands of dollars” supporting both Republican and Democratic congressional candidates. Crypto News said Republican Amanda McKinney also advanced from Washington after receiving support from political action committees affiliated with the crypto industry.
Crypto News added that Fairshake entered the 2026 midterms with a reported $193 million war chest, and it described Fairshake as one of the largest political spenders in crypto. Bitcoin World said Huizenga’s primary win in Michigan’s 4th Congressional District on August 4 sets up a November contest against Democratic state Senator Shawn McCann, with outside spending from crypto political action committees possible.
Spending, legislation, and stakes
Crypto News said Fairshake-backed groups spent millions of dollars supporting congressional candidates in Maryland, New York and Utah, and it cited Federal Election Commission filings showing Protect Progress directed more than $5.5 million toward Maryland state Delegate Adrian Boafo’s Democratic primary campaign. The same Crypto News report said Defend American Jobs spent more than $400,000 supporting Republican Representative Blake Moore in Utah, and it also described Fairshake affiliates spending more than $12 million during Alabama’s Republican primary runoff where Barry Moore secured victory. Cointelegraph said Thanedar promoted crypto-friendly policies and received more than $2 million in advertising support from a super PAC backed by Coinbase and XRP, and it described McKinney’s campaign as opposing that influence.
HuffPost framed the broader political stakes by saying “All have won critical races over the course of this year’s primaries,” and it added that the policy priority of the cryptocurrency industry is stalled in Congress. Crypto News said lawmakers are still negotiating the CLARITY Act, with Senate offices working through committee language, ethics provisions and anti-money laundering safeguards, while Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman said many lawmakers were still working to understand the proposal.