A conservative political action committee, the Sentinel Action Fund, backed by the Solana Policy Institute, has launched a substantial advertising campaign against former Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat and vocal crypto critic, in his bid to return to Washington in the Ohio Senate election. The PAC, along with its affiliate Right Vote, has committed $8 million to support Republican candidate Jon Husted, who is running for the seat left vacant by Vice President JD Vance.
The committee has accused Brown of hindering pro-innovation policies related to digital assets during his previous tenure as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. The Sentinel Action Fund is funded in part by the Solana Institute and crypto venture firm Multicoin Capital, as well as prominent financial figures such as Stephen Schwarzman, Ken Fisher, Cliff Asness, and Paul Singer. The leading donor to the PAC is the nonprofit Townsend Six Corp., which was established in late 2024 with an $8 million contribution from an unidentified donor.
The Ohio election is expected to be one of the most contested Senate battles, with the majority of the chamber at stake. Recent polls have shown the race between Husted and Brown to be neck and neck, despite Husted's initial strong lead.
The Sentinel Action Fund joins other crypto industry-backed PACs, such as Fairshake and the Fellowship PAC, in supporting candidates who favor digital assets. The Solana Policy Institute has donated $750,000 to the Sentinel Action Fund, while also contributing to Republican and Democratic PACs with opposing goals. The outcome of the election could significantly impact the course of crypto legislation, although the industry has garnered substantial bipartisan support in Congress.