John Deaton, an attorney advocating for the crypto industry, has officially launched his campaign to run for a United States Senate seat in Massachusetts. Interestingly, Deaton does not explicitly mention digital assets as a campaign issue. In his campaign video released on Feb. 20, Deaton primarily focuses on his determination to “take on the Washington elites” and criticizes Senator Elizabeth Warren for her lack of accomplishments for Massachusetts. The video includes a photo of a Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly headline highlighting Deaton’s role in advocating for crypto against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Deaton can be seen wearing a shirt promoting his cause. While Deaton’s video emphasizes domestic issues like inflation and border security, his main objective is to further his life’s mission by bringing change to those who need it the most.
If successful, Deaton’s campaign would result in him unseating incumbent Senator Warren, who has served in government since 2013. Senator Warren has been one of the most prominent opponents of digital assets in the U.S. government, expressing concerns about their potential use for illicit activities, including financing terrorism. On his campaign website, Deaton highlights his advocacy for crypto as an attorney, including filing an amicus brief on behalf of XRP holders in the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple. Deaton has consistently voiced his support for the rights of crypto investors and criticized the SEC and policymakers for their handling of enforcement actions against digital assets. Notably, Deaton’s campaign launch and website do not mention his political party affiliation, but it is reported that he is running as a Republican, while Senator Warren is running as a Democrat.
Both Senator Warren’s and Deaton’s offices were contacted for comment, but no response was received at the time of publication. Campaign finance data from the Federal Election Commission indicates that, as of December 31, Senator Warren had raised roughly $16 million for her 2024 reelection campaign, with approximately $4 million in cash on hand. Prior to Deaton’s official campaign launch, Senator Warren called for donations, highlighting Deaton as a “big cheerleader for crypto interests” and claiming that the “crypto lobby” has targeted her. It remains uncertain whether interest groups can contribute to Deaton’s Senate run. In an interview released on Feb. 18, Senator Warren mentioned that some individuals within the crypto industry have significant funds at their disposal to challenge her support of the Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act in Congress.
Despite being viewed favorably by 41% of Massachusettsans in a 2023 poll conducted by the MassINC Polling Group, Deaton is considered a long shot to unseat Senator Warren. The election day for the candidates is set for Nov. 5.
That photo of John Deaton in the Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly headline is legendary! He’s been a strong advocate for crypto against the SEC.
It’s suspicious that both Senator Warren and Deaton haven’t responded to requests for comment. What are they hiding?