Pro-crypto attorney John Deaton has emerged victorious in the Massachusetts Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. Deaton, an outspoken advocate for Ripple and the broader cryptocurrency industry, will now challenge Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren in the November general election.
Deaton defeated two Republican contenders, industrial engineer Bob Antonellis and Quincy city council president Ian Cain, securing 64% of the votes with 43% of the total count in, according to Politico data. His win, reported on September 4 by the Associated Press, sets up a high-profile contest against Warren, a prominent critic of the cryptocurrency sector.
Crypto Advocate vs. Crypto Critic
Deaton’s victory positions him against Warren, a two-term senator who has become one of the crypto industry’s most vocal opponents. Warren, who serves on the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, has been a staunch critic of cryptocurrency, linking it to terrorism, malware, and drug abuse. Over the years, she has proposed several legislative measures to curb the growth of digital assets in the United States.
In contrast, Deaton has made a name for himself by defending the crypto industry, including representing Ripple investors in their battle against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). However, during his victory speech posted on X (formerly Twitter), Deaton notably did not mention cryptocurrency, focusing instead on broader campaign promises.
Crypto Industry Support
Deaton’s campaign gained significant backing from major figures in the crypto world. The Winklevoss twins, founders of Gemini, along with top executives from Ripple, supported his bid. The Commonwealth Unity Fund, a crypto-focused political action committee (PAC), reportedly contributed over $1 million to Deaton’s campaign. Prominent donors included Ripple executives Chris Larsen and Brad Garlinghouse, Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson, and SkyBridge Capital’s Anthony Scaramucci.
According to Federal Election Commission records, Deaton had raised around $1.7 million by July 31 for his Senate campaign.
A High-Stakes Race in November
In November, Deaton will go up against Warren, who is seeking her third term. Warren, who defeated Republican incumbent Scott Brown in 2012 and won reelection in 2018 with over 60% of the vote, is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
With the contrasting views on cryptocurrency between the two candidates, the race is likely to draw significant attention, especially from the crypto industry, which sees Deaton as a key ally in Washington.
