Huizenga Loses House Seat Despite $1 Million From Crypto PAC Fairshake

Rep. Bill Huizenga, the No. 2 Republican on the House Financial Services Committee, lost his reelection bid to Democrat Sean McCann, the Associated Press called Wednesday afternoon, despite about $1 million in support from the crypto super PAC Fairshake.

With more than 97% of votes counted earlier today, McCann led Huizenga 50.1% to 48.3% in Michigan’s 4th Congressional District, a gap of about 7,000 votes out of nearly 300,000 cast. The race had been rated “lean Republican” heading into Tuesday.

Huizenga, an eight-term congressman and the committee’s vice chair, is the highest-ranking Republican on the panel to lose. He is not the only crypto ally on it to go down.

Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, who chairs the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Artificial Intelligence, lost to Democrat Mitchell Berman 52% to 48%. The AP called that race at 11:48 p.m. Tuesday.

Rep. Ann Wagner of Missouri, who chairs the capital markets subcommittee, lost to Democrat Fred Wellman. Rep. Zach Nunn of Iowa lost to state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, and Rep. Mike Lawler of New York conceded to Democrat Cait Conley before the AP called his race.

Fairshake’s $1 million bets come up short

Fairshake committed at least $1 million in October to each of six House incumbents, among them Huizenga, Steil and committee Chairman French Hill of Arkansas. The super PAC reported spending $1,019,166 to support Huizenga in the general election, according to Federal Election Commission filings.