Maryland State Delegate Adrian Boafo has won the Democratic primary for Maryland’s 5th Congressional District, putting him on track to compete for the seat held by retiring Rep. Steny Hoyer.
Summary
- Boafo won Maryland’s crowded Democratic primary after Protect Progress backed his campaign through heavy outside spending.
- Protect Progress spent $5.5 million backing Boafo as crypto PACs targeted key congressional races Tuesday.
- His win adds another pro-crypto candidate to November’s race while digital asset bills advance forward.
The Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ called the race Tuesday night after a crowded primary with more than 20 Democratic candidates.
Boafo entered the race with support from Hoyer, Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Senator Angela Alsobrooks. The district is heavily Democratic, giving the primary winner a strong path into the November general election.
Protect Progress spending draws attention
Protect Progress, a Fairshake-linked super PAC that backs Democratic candidates, spent heavily to support Boafo. According to campaign finance coverage citing Federal Election Commission filings, the group spent more than $5.5 million in the race.
“We went big and we went early,” said Geoff Vetter, a Fairshake spokesperson. “We did our part to move Adrian Boafo from fifth place to the halls of Congress. He is poised to be a leader in the largest pro-crypto Congress in history.”
Outside spending became a central issue in the final weeks of the campaign. Maryland Matters reported that outside groups spent about $8.8 million supporting Boafo as of June 3. The spending included funds from Protect Progress and the United Democracy Project, a super PAC linked to AIPAC.
Crypto PACs expand primary push
Boafo’s win gives crypto-backed groups another victory in the 2026 primary season. As previously reported by crypto.news, Fairshake-linked PACs spent more than $8 million ahead of key congressional primaries in Maryland, New York and Utah.
The spending focused on candidates viewed as friendly to digital asset policy. Protect Progress put much of its funding toward Boafo in Maryland and Rep. Ritchie Torres in New York. Defend American Jobs, another Fairshake affiliate, spent in a Republican primary in Utah.
In a recent update, crypto.news covered Fairshake’s wider spending push as lawmakers continued work around the CLARITY Act. The report said Boafo had become one of the largest recipients of crypto PAC support in the current election cycle.
Previously, crypto.news reported that Fairshake and allied crypto PACs raised $193 million by the end of 2024. Major donors included Ripple, Coinbase, Andreessen Horowitz, Gemini, Crypto.com and Kraken.
Results add to broader election pattern
Boafo’s victory follows other wins by candidates backed by crypto-aligned PACs. As crypto.news reported, Christian Menefee won a Texas Democratic primary runoff after Protect Progress spent about $5 million supporting him and $2.8 million opposing Rep. Al Green.
Crypto-backed groups also scored a Senate primary win in Alabama. In a previous article, crypto.news discussed Barry Moore’s Republican runoff victory after Defend American Jobs spent more than $12 million on ads supporting him.
The Maryland result comes as digital asset legislation remains active in Washington. The GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act have kept crypto policy tied to campaign spending, industry lobbying and primary contests.
Boafo will now move to the general election. His primary win shows how crypto PACs are using targeted spending to shape congressional races before the next Congress takes office.
