Protect Progress tops $2 million backing Thanedar in Michigan primary

Protect Progress, a super PAC affiliated with the crypto-backed Fairshake network, has reported more than $2 million in independent expenditures in Michigan's 13th Congressional District Democratic primary, including $884,240 in new advertisements supporting incumbent Shri Thanedar and more than $150,000 opposing challenger Donavan McKinney. The latest Federal Election Commission disclosures pushed the group's total above $2 million after it had previously reported more than $986,000 by July 23, a level that now exceeds McKinney's campaign-reported $1.23 million in total disbursements through July 15, though the figures cover different reporting periods and kinds of activity. Thanedar has drawn support from crypto-focused groups after voting for the stablecoin-focused GENIUS Act and the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which he said would move policy toward clearer rules, consumer protections and broader financial access, while acknowledging the bills were "not perfect." McKinney has made the outside spending a campaign issue, saying on July 21 that "the crypto lobby is paying my opponent back" for votes he linked to President Donald Trump's digital asset interests, though FEC records show independent ad spending rather than coordination with Thanedar's campaign. More than 1.03 million Michigan residents had voted by the morning of July 31, and the Aug. 4 result will offer an early test of whether Fairshake-aligned late spending can help shape a congressional primary as crypto industry money continues flowing into U.S. elections.