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Crypto and Pro-Israel Super PACs Pour $8 Million into Marylands 5th-District Primary
On June 12, 2026, federal campaign‑finance filings revealed that more than $8 million has been spent by outside groups to support Democratic candidate Adrian Boafo in the Maryland 5th‑District congressional primary. The bulk of the money—nearly $4.8 million—came from Protect Progress, a super PAC funded by the cryptocurrency industry. A second $2.8 million was contributed by United Democracy Project, the super PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Additional spending from other political organizations added roughly $500,000, bringing the total to $8.1 million.
The 5th District, which includes all of Charles, St. Mary’s and Calvert counties and parts of Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties, has been a safe Democratic seat since 1975. Incumbent Representative Steny Hoyer announced his retirement in 2024, prompting a crowded primary field. Adrian Boafo, a state delegate from Prince George’s County, is running to succeed Hoyer. His opponent, Wala Blegay, a former Prince George’s County councilmember and attorney, is also on the ballot.
The filings show that Boafo’s direct fundraising totals are far lower than the outside spending. According to the Federal Election Commission, Boafo’s campaign has raised under $200,000 in the first half of 2026, a fraction of the $8 million injected by the super PACs. The contrast highlights the growing influence of national interest groups in local races.
Protect Progress is a crypto‑industry super PAC that has supported pro‑cryptocurrency candidates in recent elections. Its donors include major cryptocurrency firms and venture capital firms that have a stake in the regulatory environment. The PAC’s spending in Maryland’s 5th District is part of a broader pattern of crypto‑focused super PACs investing in Democratic primaries across the country.
United Democracy Project, established in 2022, is AIPAC’s super PAC. It has spent heavily in Democratic primaries to back candidates who align with a pro‑Israel stance. The $2.8 million spent on Boafo reflects the group’s strategy to influence policy positions on U.S.‑Israel relations.
The influx of outside money raises questions about the role of large donors in shaping policy. While the filings do not specify the conditions attached to the contributions, the scale of the spending suggests that the donors are seeking influence over the candidate’s positions on issues such as cryptocurrency regulation and U.S. foreign policy.
Boafo’s campaign, by contrast, has emphasized a platform that includes Medicare for All, universal childcare, workers’ rights, housing justice, and a broader focus on human rights. The campaign’s messaging has been built on grassroots organizing and community engagement rather than large‑donor support.
Blegay’s campaign also positions itself as a progressive alternative, drawing on her experience as a county councilmember and attorney. Her platform includes similar policy priorities and has attracted endorsements from local progressive groups.
The disparity between the outside spending and the candidates’ own fundraising underscores a broader trend in American politics: national interest groups are increasingly willing to invest millions in local races to shape the policy agenda. The Maryland 5th‑District primary is a case study in how super PACs can influence a seemingly safe Democratic seat.
As the primary approaches on June 23, voters in the 5th District will face a choice between candidates backed by large outside donors and those whose campaigns rely on community support. The outcome will have implications for how much influence national interest groups wield in future elections.
In the coming weeks, campaign finance officials will continue to report on spending, and the candidates will likely respond to the influx of outside money. The primary’s result will be a bellwether for the extent to which large donors can shape policy positions in a deeply Democratic district.
The 5th District, which includes all of Charles, St. Mary’s and Calvert counties and parts of Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties, has been a safe Democratic seat since 1975. Incumbent Representative Steny Hoyer announced his retirement in 2024, prompting a crowded primary field. Adrian Boafo, a state delegate from Prince George’s County, is running to succeed Hoyer. His opponent, Wala Blegay, a former Prince George’s County councilmember and attorney, is also on the ballot.
The filings show that Boafo’s direct fundraising totals are far lower than the outside spending. According to the Federal Election Commission, Boafo’s campaign has raised under $200,000 in the first half of 2026, a fraction of the $8 million injected by the super PACs. The contrast highlights the growing influence of national interest groups in local races.
Protect Progress is a crypto‑industry super PAC that has supported pro‑cryptocurrency candidates in recent elections. Its donors include major cryptocurrency firms and venture capital firms that have a stake in the regulatory environment. The PAC’s spending in Maryland’s 5th District is part of a broader pattern of crypto‑focused super PACs investing in Democratic primaries across the country.
United Democracy Project, established in 2022, is AIPAC’s super PAC. It has spent heavily in Democratic primaries to back candidates who align with a pro‑Israel stance. The $2.8 million spent on Boafo reflects the group’s strategy to influence policy positions on U.S.‑Israel relations.
The influx of outside money raises questions about the role of large donors in shaping policy. While the filings do not specify the conditions attached to the contributions, the scale of the spending suggests that the donors are seeking influence over the candidate’s positions on issues such as cryptocurrency regulation and U.S. foreign policy.
Boafo’s campaign, by contrast, has emphasized a platform that includes Medicare for All, universal childcare, workers’ rights, housing justice, and a broader focus on human rights. The campaign’s messaging has been built on grassroots organizing and community engagement rather than large‑donor support.
Blegay’s campaign also positions itself as a progressive alternative, drawing on her experience as a county councilmember and attorney. Her platform includes similar policy priorities and has attracted endorsements from local progressive groups.
The disparity between the outside spending and the candidates’ own fundraising underscores a broader trend in American politics: national interest groups are increasingly willing to invest millions in local races to shape the policy agenda. The Maryland 5th‑District primary is a case study in how super PACs can influence a seemingly safe Democratic seat.
As the primary approaches on June 23, voters in the 5th District will face a choice between candidates backed by large outside donors and those whose campaigns rely on community support. The outcome will have implications for how much influence national interest groups wield in future elections.
In the coming weeks, campaign finance officials will continue to report on spending, and the candidates will likely respond to the influx of outside money. The primary’s result will be a bellwether for the extent to which large donors can shape policy positions in a deeply Democratic district.
