Protect Progress, a Fairshake-linked political action committee, spent more than $2 million opposing Democrat Oliver Gilbert in Florida’s 24th congressional district. Federal Election Commission records showed the spending as of Tuesday. However, digital assets had not become a major issue in the primary.
Gilbert is seeking the seat held by Representative Frederica Wilson, who endorsed him at a June 22 event. Wilson previously voted against the CLARITY Act and GENIUS Act in Congress.
State Senator Shevrin Jones is also seeking the Democratic nomination. An early August poll placed Jones ahead of Gilbert. Meanwhile, Stand With Crypto rated Jones as ‘strongly supports’ after he completed its questionnaire.
Before Protect Progress entered the race, neither leading Democratic candidate appeared to have made digital assets a central campaign issue. The PAC’s involvement then brought crypto-linked political spending into the contest.
Gilbert said Donald Trump’s ‘tech billionaire buddies’ were behind what he called ‘crypto con artists trying to buy a Democratic primary.’ He criticized the outside spending directed against his campaign.
The ads also included fake Miami Herald headlines unrelated to digital asset policy. A Fairshake spokesperson said the underlying facts in the advertisement were true and cited reporting from the Miami Herald.
The spokesperson did not explain why the PAC directed the spending against Gilbert. Why did Protect Progress spend more than $2 million against Gilbert when crypto policy had not become a major campaign issue? Fairshake gave no reason.
Also Read: Fairshake-Backed Candidates Win Key US Party Primaries
Fairshake reported a $193 million war chest as of January. Its affiliates include Protect Progress, which supports Democrats, and Defend American Jobs, which supports Republican candidates.
By June, Fairshake had already directed more than $82 million into primaries and special elections through advertising. Protect Progress also spent more than $150,000 supporting Representative Lois Frankel in Florida’s 23rd district.
Defend American Jobs reported $1.5 million in combined advertising supporting Nick Begich, Sydney Gruters and Harriet Hageman. Meanwhile, voters in Alaska, California, Florida and Wyoming were choosing congressional candidates on Tuesday.
The 2026 primaries will help determine control of the House and Senate in the next Congress. Both chambers are on recess until September. The Senate then expects to vote on the CLARITY Act.
Fairshake affiliate Protect Progress spent more than $2 million opposing Oliver Gilbert despite limited crypto debate in Florida’s Democratic primary. The spending forms part of Fairshake’s broader 2026 election activity, backed by a reported $193 million war chest and more than $82 million deployed by June.