Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis, a prominent supporter of cryptocurrency in the US Congress, has officially endorsed Republican Ian Cain in his bid for a Massachusetts Senate seat. Cain’s campaign announced on July 8th that Senator Lummis is endorsing him based on his understanding of the digital economy and his commitment to innovation. This endorsement could give Cain an advantage in the primary race against his competitors, engineer Robert Antonellis and lawyer John Deaton, who has a focus on cryptocurrencies.
Senator Lummis expressed her support for Cain, stating, “From the border to blockchain, Ian Cain understands the issues facing his community and he will fight hard every day for the Commonwealth.” This endorsement comes 57 days before the Massachusetts Republican primary and 120 days before the general election in the United States. The Republican party is aiming to dethrone incumbent Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren, who has been known for her vocal opposition to cryptocurrencies and their alleged involvement in illicit activities.
John Deaton, a lawyer and candidate in the race, has been an advocate for cryptocurrencies and has criticized Senator Warren for her anti-crypto stance. Deaton has filed amicus briefs in several high-profile crypto court cases, opposing the US Securities and Exchange Commission. In the first quarter of 2024, Deaton’s campaign raised more funds than Senator Warren’s, with support from crypto-focused backers, including executives from Gemini, Ripple, and Kraken.
Ian Cain, co-founder of Qubic Labs, launched his campaign in April. As of now, there is no available data from the Federal Election Commission on Cain’s fundraising efforts, as his campaign was launched after the first-quarter filings. However, Cain has publicly shown his support for cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, including endorsing the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century (FIT21) Act.
According to YouGov polls as of May 30th, Senator Warren holds a significant lead of over 20 points against both Deaton and Cain. Cointelegraph reached out to Deaton and Senator Lummis for comments but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology have already become campaign topics for many candidates in the 2024 election, including former President Donald Trump. Trump has voiced support for Bitcoin mining in the US and has stated that his campaign will accept cryptocurrency contributions. This move has reportedly prompted President Joe Biden to consider addressing digital assets more prominently in his campaign as the election approaches.