- Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse endorsed Republican John Deaton in his campaign for a U.S. Senate seat representing Massachusetts against incumbent Elizabeth Warren
- Garlinghouse cited Deaton’s advocacy for XRP holders and the crypto industry in court as the reason for his endorsement
- Ripple, Garlinghouse, and other executives have directly contributed funds to Deaton’s campaign and a PAC supporting him
Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of payments firm Ripple, has publicly endorsed Republican John Deaton in his campaign to win a seat representing Massachusetts in the United States Senate. Garlinghouse cited Deaton’s advocacy for the crypto industry as a reason for his endorsement.
Senate Race Seen as Referendum on Crypto Policy
Deaton and incumbent Senator Elizabeth Warren have clashed over digital asset policies during debates. Warren has accused Deaton of being beholden to the crypto industry due to his campaign funding. Deaton has countered that Warren is overly focused on crypto regulation compared to other key issues.
Contributions from Ripple Executives
Garlinghouse, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen, and Ripple’s chief legal officer have all donated directly to Deaton’s campaign. Ripple is also a major contributor to a PAC supporting Deaton. This has led many to see Ripple executives unanimously backing Deaton against crypto-skeptic Warren.
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Massachusetts Senate Race Polls
With less than two weeks until the election, Warren holds a sizable lead over Deaton in polls. However, Ripple executives remain staunchly supportive of Deaton’s long-shot bid.
Ripple’s Complex Political Donations
While donating to Deaton, Larsen has also pledged millions in XRP to a PAC supporting Democratic VP candidate Kamala Harris. This illustrates Ripple making donations across party lines to support crypto-friendly candidates.
Conclusion
The Massachusetts Senate race is being seen as a referendum on crypto policy. Ripple executives have firmly aligned themselves with Deaton against Warren despite the odds against him. Their political donations reveal a strategy of bipartisan outreach to back crypto-friendly lawmakers.
