Crypto-Backed Candidates Lead in Early U.S. House Election Returns

Several candidates backed by crypto industry interests were ahead in early U.S. House returns, offering an initial measure of the sector’s political influence in the 2026 midterms. In New Jersey, Josh Gottheimer and Rob Menendez led. Georgia’s early leaders included Democrats Lucy McBath, Amanda Hollowell and Jasmine Clark, along with Republicans Brian Jack, Austin Scott and Clay Fuller. The Georgia list included three candidates from each party. Two other contests had incomplete counts. Republican Houston Gaines trailed Democrat Pamela DeLancy by a small margin with about 35% of ballots counted.