A Super PAC network, backed by the cryptocurrency sector, is gearing up to support two Republican contenders in the upcoming special elections for the United States House of Representatives in Florida on April 1. The coalition consists of groups such as Fairshake, Defend American Jobs, and Protect Progress.
Defend American Jobs will kick off their campaign with a $1.2 million advertisement for Florida State Senator Randy Fine, who is vying to fill the seat left vacant by Michael Waltz, who departed to become national security adviser under President Donald Trump. “Floridians want crypto innovation!” Fine expressed on X on January 14, underlining the necessity for “clear rules of the road.”
Additionally, Defend American Jobs plans to allocate $345,000 to bolster Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis in his bid to succeed former representative Matt Gaetz, who resigned after Trump nominated him for US attorney general—a position he ultimately withdrew from.
As Florida’s CFO, Patronis had previously written to the State Board of Administration, advocating for a study on the possibility of investing a portion of the state’s retirement funds in digital assets.
Currently, there are four empty seats in the US House of Representatives, two of which are situated in Florida. Should the Democrats succeed in securing all four positions, the GOP would only maintain a slim one-seat lead in the House.
Defend American Jobs has already shown its support for Fine and Patronis during the primary elections that determined the nominees for these special elections. It has been reported that the PAC invested over $500,000 to aid Fine and $200,000 in support of Patronis. Both candidates emerged victorious in their respective primaries for Florida’s 6th and 1st congressional districts.
While Fairshake tends to dominate discussions within the crypto PAC realm, Defend American Jobs also invests millions in promoting candidates aligned with the cryptocurrency agenda. Reports indicate that this PAC garnered and disbursed about $60 million between 2023 and 2024. Based in Alexandria, VA, it specifically targets candidates in the securities and investment fields, with a strong focus on crypto.
In contrast to Fairshake, which often backs candidates across party lines, Defend American Jobs primarily channels its funding towards Republican candidates, with no reported support for Democratic contenders.