Fairshake superPAC starts $1.8 mln campaign against anti-crypto candidates in Illinois

Crypto-backed super PAC Fairshake has begun funding media advertisement buys to campaign against key candidates in the Illinois Democrat primaries who supported a state bill the industry opposes.

One of the first candidates on Fairshake’s chopping block is Representative La Shawn Ford of Illinois’s 7th Congressional District.

According to the latest filing with the Federal Election Commission, Fairshake has spent $16,137 on media campaigns against Ford.

So far in 2026, Fairshake has spent close to $1.8 million on media coverage against Ford, underscoring the industry’s massive push against anti-crypto candidates.

According to advocacy group Stand With Crypto (SWC), Ford has a ‘somewhat anti-crypto’ rating following his strong support for state legislation that the industry deems to be in opposition to the broader crypto market structure bill, the CLARITY Act.

Alongside Ford, Fairshake is targeting state Sen. Robert Peters, who aims to succeed Democratic Rep. Robin Kelly, who’s eyeing the state senatorial seat.

The crypto superPAC had earlier pledged to spend at least $1 million against these two in the Democratic primaries for their anti-crypto stance.

Fairshake’s CLARITY Act plans

And if Polymarket data is to be believed, Fairshake seems to be winning. In the House race, Polymarket was pricing only a 17% chance of Ford winning against Melissa Conyears Ervin, who led with a 58% chance.

Conyears is rated as ‘very pro-crypto’ by SWC and strongly supports the CLARITY Act.

In the Senate Democrat primaries, the industry is backing Raja Krishnamoorthi, who has voted for nearly all pro-crypto legislation at the state and federal levels.

But Fairshake isn’t focusing on a single party; it is backing pro-crypto candidates and de-campaigning anti-crypto aspirants regardless of party.

In the recently concluded Texas primaries, for example, Fairshake candidate Jessica Steinmann won the Republican primary for the U.S. House race in Texas District 8.

If the wins continue, this could help achieve the Fairshake objective of having as many pro-crypto candidates as possible in the November midterm elections, regardless of the party.

This is particularly important because the market expects Democrats to regain control of Congress.

Since Democrats have been perceived as mostly anti-crypto, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren, Fairshake’s strategy could help dilute any opposition against the CLARITY Act, regardless of which party controls Congress after November.

This could bolster the odds of passage of the CLARITY Act afterward, should the Senate floor vote happen after the November elections.

Fairshake revealed a war chest of over $190 million for this year’s elections and receives significant donations from Coinbase, Ripple, and crypto venture firm a16z.

Final Summary

• Fairshake has spent nearly $1.8 million in ad campaigns against anti-crypto Illinois state Rep. Ford.
• Fairshake is aggressively pushing for more pro-crypto candidates to emerge as winners, as the Democratic Party is expected to regain control of Congress.