Maryland State Delegate Adrian Boafo has won the Democratic primary for Maryland’s 5th Congressional District, securing victory for political groups backed by the cryptocurrency industry.
The race was called by major election trackers after a crowded contest that featured more than 20 Democratic candidates. Boafo will now advance to the November general election to compete for the seat currently held by retiring Congressman Steny Hoyer.
The district has long been considered a Democratic stronghold, making the primary the most important stage of the contest. Boafo entered the race with endorsements from Wes Moore, Angela Alsobrooks, and Hoyer himself.
🚨NEW: Maryland State Delegate @AdrianBoafoMD has won the crowded Democratic primary for Maryland’s 5th Congressional District to replace outgoing @RepStenyHoyer.
Boafo was backed to the tune of $5.5 million by Fairshake affiliate Protect Progress, which just issued this… https://t.co/IShaL2kylg
— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) June 24, 2026
Fairshake-linked groups poured millions into the race
Crypto-backed political spending played a big role in the outcome. Protect Progress, a super PAC affiliated with the crypto-focused organization Fairshake, spent more than $5.5 million supporting Boafo’s campaign, according to reports citing Federal Election Commission filings.
Outside spending became a major issue during the campaign’s final weeks. Reports showed that roughly $8.8 million had been spent by outside groups supporting Boafo by early June, with contributions coming from both Protect Progress and the United Democracy Project. Following the victory, Fairshake representatives described the result as another step toward building what they called the most pro-crypto Congress in U.S. history.
Is crypto money becoming a powerful force in congressional races?
Boafo’s victory adds to the list of election wins involving candidates supported by crypto-focused political organizations.
Earlier this year, crypto-backed groups helped support Democratic candidate Christian Menefee in Texas through millions of dollars in campaign spending. Similar efforts have appeared in the Senate, the House, and state-level contests as the industry seeks greater influence over digital asset policy.
Currently, Congress is debating major crypto legislation, including the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act, both of which could shape stablecoin regulation, market structure rules, and oversight of digital asset businesses.
For the crypto industry, these races are no longer just about individual candidates. They are increasingly about building a voting bloc in Congress that could influence how future cryptocurrency laws are written, debated, and passed.
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