A political action committee (PAC) with donations from crypto industry players, including Ripple, has invested $850,000 in support of Republican John Deaton in the Massachusetts primary. According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, the Commonwealth Unity Fund Super PAC spent around $450,000 on direct mail to back Deaton on August 7, and over $500,000 on media buys on August 6. This follows the Super PAC’s earlier expenditure of more than $300,000 on media placements in July.
Deaton, one of three Republicans vying for a U.S. Senate seat representing Massachusetts in 2025, has garnered significant support from the crypto industry. In July, Ripple announced a $1 million donation to the Commonwealth Unity Fund to bolster Deaton’s campaign to unseat Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has held the position since 2013.
In April, Gemini co-founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss contributed $6,600 directly to Deaton’s campaign, the maximum amount allowed for both primary and general election bids. The Winklevoss twins later announced in July a combined $1 million donation to Deaton, though it was unclear whether the funds would go directly to his campaign or supportive PACs.
According to FEC records, Deaton had raised approximately $1.7 million for his Senate bid as of July 31, with about $1 million in cash on hand. In contrast, Senator Warren had raised roughly $6.4 million since January 2023, with $4.9 million in cash on hand as of July.
The Massachusetts primary, scheduled for September 3, is expected to be a significant test for the influence of crypto-related funding in U.S. elections. On August 6, candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives backed by the Fairshake Super PAC and its affiliates won their primaries after more than $4 million was spent on media.
Deaton, a lawyer who has filed amicus briefs in support of crypto firms in legal battles against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, launched his Senate campaign in February.
However, support for Deaton is not unanimous within the crypto industry. Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis, a Bitcoin holder and digital asset advocate, endorsed Republican Ian Cain over Deaton in July, citing Cain’s understanding of the “digital economy” and his support for innovation.
As of June, polls showed Senator Warren leading by at least 20 points against Cain and Deaton. She is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.
