Update Sept. 4, 6:19 pm UTC: This article has been updated to include a statement from Senator Cynthia Lummis.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has agreed to debate Republican candidate John Deaton before the November election for one of the United States Senate seats in Massachusetts, but it’s unclear whether crypto will be on the agenda.
After Deaton won the Republican primary for the Massachusetts US Senate race on Sept. 3, Warren’s campaign released a statement that she agreed to two debates in October. However, in his victory speech, Deaton challenged the Massachusetts senator to five single-issue debates covering immigration, the economy, income inequality, women’s reproductive rights and foreign wars.
“The country faces multiple crises and trying to cram all the issues into two short debates is a disservice to voters,” said Deaton.
Deaton, a lawyer who has backed Ripple and other crypto firms facing litigation from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, has the support of many in the industry, including Gemini co-founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and the Commonwealth Unity Fund political action committee (PAC).
Though Senator Warren’s campaign has outraised Deaton’s in terms of funding and has more overall support in Massachusetts, according to polls, many are framing the Senate election as a pro- vs. anti-crypto race.
“A small handful of crypto billionaires and corporate special interests poured more than $2 million into a super PAC to handpick their preferred Republican candidate, and now Massachusetts voters have a clear choice that could determine control of the Senate,” said Warren’s campaign manager, Janice Rottenberg.
A spokesperson for Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis, who endorsed Deaton challenger Ian Cain, told Cointelegraph she would support the Republican nominee in November “as he is running against one of the biggest opponents of digital assets in the Senate” — i.e., Elizabeth Warren.
Debating crypto?
According to Rottenberg, Senator Warren agreed to two debates “about abortion rights, the Supreme Court, funding for Medicare and Social Security, and other issues critical to our country’s future” without explicitly mentioning digital assets. Cointelegraph reached out to the senator’s campaign for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Deaton has been a vocal critic of the SEC, its chair, Gary Gensler, and Warren. Before the Sept. 3 primary, he continued to criticize the Massachusetts senator for fostering an “anti-innovation culture” with her positions on digital assets, claiming she was orchestrating the SEC’s enforcement actions against crypto firms.
Related: ‘Flood of money’ from crypto Super PACs could fund potential challenger to Elizabeth Warren
It’s unclear whether Deaton or Senator Warren could bring up crypto on the debate stage in October. Cointelegraph reached out to Deaton’s campaign for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Since taking office in 2013, Warren has been one of the most vocal crypto skeptics in the US Congress. She has associated digital assets with illicit activities and introduced legislation, including the Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act. May polling suggested that she could have a 23-point lead over Deaton in the general election on Nov. 5.
Cryptocurrency and blockchain seem to have become more of an issue for presidential candidates in the 2024 election, which is expected to be a tight race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. With 62 days until the election, either candidate may have an opportunity to court more single-issue voters.
Magazine: Crypto voters are already disrupting the 2024 election — and it’s set to continue