Brown Takes On Crypto Ally Husted in Ohio Senate Race
Former Senator Sherrod Brown is running again in Ohio's 2026 Senate race against Republican Jon Husted, who took office after JD Vance became Vice President. The race comes four months after crypto's marquee 2025 legislative priority, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, collapsed in the Senate, and seven months after the industry's biggest super PAC affiliates closed their books on a $290 million 2024 spending spree.
Crypto spent roughly $40 million to defeat Brown last cycle. Defend American Jobs, the Republican-aligned affiliate of the super PAC Fairshake, spent about $40.1 million supporting Bernie Moreno in Ohio, per FEC Schedule A filings reviewed by Fintech Weekly. Moreno, a self-described crypto enthusiast, defeated Brown in the most expensive Senate race in the country, with both sides spending more than $500 million.
The industry's public posture was blunt. Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium: 'Thank you to all of y'all for getting rid of Sherrod Brown. Literally, the industry put Bernie Moreno in the Senate.'