Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail
Policy
Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail
Stratton wins Illinois Senate primary, defeat
Policy
Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail
Stratton wins Illinois Senate primary, defeat
Stratton wins Illinois Senate primary, defeating crypto-backed Krishnamoorthi
For feedback or concerns regarding this content, please contact us at crypto.news@mexc.com
Stratton wins Illinois Senate primary, defeating crypto-backed Krishnamoorthi
Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton is now likely to be the next Senator from Illinois, after defeating Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who enjoyed major backing from crypto PAC Fairshake.
By Nikhilesh De
Updated Mar 18, 2026, 3:27 a.m. Published Mar 18, 2026, 3:03 a.m.
Make us preferred on Google
Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton is now poised to be the next Senator from the state. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton is poised to become the next Senator from the state after winning the Democratic primary Tuesday night, defeating Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi.
Krishnamoorthi had received close to $10 million in backing from crypto super-political action committee (PAC) Fairshake, among other entities, while Stratton was backed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Illinois' senate seat is rated a "Solid Democratic" seat by Cook Political Report, meaning the winner of Tuesday's primary will most likely win the general election this November and represent the Prairie State in the Senate in 2027.
Fairshake's ads largely attacked Stratton, rather than supporting Krishnamoorthi directly, a strategy it also employed in the 2024 election. The PAC typically supports candidates in primaries for races they're likely to win, letting it boast that the vast majority of its backed candidates won elections in 2024.
Stand With Crypto, a Coinbase-backed group that assigns rates to lawmakers based on how crypto-friendly they are, gave Stratton an "F" ranking based on a single statement she made about her primary opponent receiving backing from "MAGA-backed crypto bros." The rating notes that she has not voted on any crypto bills or otherwise made statements about crypto generally.
Krishnamoorthi received an "A" rating based on his voting record and his responses to a questionnaire sent out by the group.
Another candidate Fairshake opposed, La Shawn Ford, won his primary race for Illinois' 7th District House seat as well, according to the Associated Press. Fairshake spent nearly $2 million opposing Ford's race for the House of Representatives. Ford's team sent the PAC a cease-and-desist alleging Fairshake's ads were "defamatory," according to the Forest Park Review.
Three Fairshake-backed candidates did win their Illinois primary races on Tuesday: Donna Miller in the 2nd House District; Melissa Bean in the 8th House District and Nikki Budzinski in the 13th House District. Fairshake spent around $800,000 against Roger Peters, who as of press time was coming in a distant third in the IL-2 race; about $560,000 to support Bean in the IL-8 race through its Protect Progress affiliate and under $84,000 to support incumbent Rep. Budzinski in the IL-13 race, according to figures compiled by Follow the Crypto.
In a statement, Fairshake spokesperson Geoff Vetter said, "We congratulate pro-crypto leaders like Donna Miller, Melissa Bean, and Rep. Nikki Budzinski. We’re proud to take on tough fights at this critical moment for American innovation and consumers. Tonight, Illinois voters have elected more pro-crypto members of Congress and we are just getting started in our nationwide fight for American innovation."
He did not immediately return a request for comment on the Senate or 7th District races, or on Ford's allegations.
UPDATE (March 18, 2026, 03:08 UTC): Amends amount spent by Fairshake in Illinois Senate primary.
UPDATE (March 18, 2026, 03:27 UTC): Adds Fairshake statement and additional detail about races it's supported.
More For You
Senator Tim Scott says market structure negotiations are advancing
The South Carolina Republican said he might see a draft of stablecoin yield language as soon as this week, and other issues continue to be negotiated.
What to know:
- The stalled crypto market structure bill is making progress behind-the-scenes, according to Senator Tim Scott.
- "I believe that this week we will have the first proposal in my hands to take a look at," he said.
Read full story
Latest Crypto News
Senator Tim Scott says market structure negotiations are advancing
Bitcoin's rally faces key hurdle with Wednesday's Fed meeting
U.S. SEC issues first-ever definitions for what crypto assets are securities
Mastercard's $1.8 billion deal 'a clear answer' to a massive shift in the global payment war
Arizona Attorney General files criminal charges against prediction market Kalshi
Facing a crisis, Bitcoin treasury companies need to pivot to survive
Top Stories
Strategy’s latest massive bitcoin purchase offers insight into its evolving funding model
Sam Altman's World teams up with Coinbase to prove there is a real person behind every AI transaction
Popular Solana wallet Phantom wins CFTC nod to access regulated derivatives markets
U.S. Democrats target government officials gaming prediction markets on war action
Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact crypto.news@mexc.com for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.
You May Also Like
One Of Frank Sinatra’s Most Famous Albums Is Back In The Spotlight
The post One Of Frank Sinatra’s Most Famous Albums Is Back In The Spotlight appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. Frank Sinatra’s The World We Knew returns to the Jazz Albums and Traditional Jazz Albums charts, showing continued demand for his timeless music. Frank Sinatra performs on his TV special Frank Sinatra: A Man and his Music Bettmann Archive These days on the Billboard charts, Frank Sinatra’s music can always be found on the jazz-specific rankings. While the art he created when he was still working was pop at the time, and later classified as traditional pop, there is no such list for the latter format in America, and so his throwback projects and cuts appear on jazz lists instead. It’s on those charts where Sinatra rebounds this week, and one of his popular projects returns not to one, but two tallies at the same time, helping him increase the total amount of real estate he owns at the moment. Frank Sinatra’s The World We Knew Returns Sinatra’s The World We Knew is a top performer again, if only on the jazz lists. That set rebounds to No. 15 on the Traditional Jazz Albums chart and comes in at No. 20 on the all-encompassing Jazz Albums ranking after not appearing on either roster just last frame. The World We Knew’s All-Time Highs The World We Knew returns close to its all-time peak on both of those rosters. Sinatra’s classic has peaked at No. 11 on the Traditional Jazz Albums chart, just missing out on becoming another top 10 for the crooner. The set climbed all the way to No. 15 on the Jazz Albums tally and has now spent just under two months on the rosters. Frank Sinatra’s Album With Classic Hits Sinatra released The World We Knew in the summer of 1967. The title track, which on the album is actually known as “The World We Knew (Over and…
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2025/09/18 00:02
NVIDIA Stock Rallied 8%, But 3 Signals Point to a Reversal
The post NVIDIA Stock Rallied 8%, But 3 Signals Point to a Reversal appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. NVIDIA (NVDA) stock price surged roughly 8% between March
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2026/04/02 20:57
Bitcoin treasury sell-off accelerates as Riot, Bhutan, and public companies exit positions
The post Bitcoin treasury sell-off accelerates as Riot, Bhutan, and public companies exit positions appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. Those who rushed into bitcoin
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2026/04/02 18:29
