Protect Our Future
Protect Our Future (POF) was a 2022 super PAC focused on pandemic prevention. It was funded primarily by Sam Bankman-Fried, and spent $24 million in Democratic primaries.[1]
Funding
In 2022 Bankman-Fried provided initial financial support for Protect Our Future PAC. Protect Our Future was launched as a Democratic political action committee with $10 million in initial funding aiming to support "lawmakers who play the long game on policymaking in areas like pandemic preparedness and planning", according to Politico.[2] Bankman-Fried had provided the majority of the $14 million raised by May 2022 for the PAC.[3] A spokesperson for the PAC said Bankman-Fried had donated $13 million, while Nishad Singh had donated $1 million.[4]
As of June 2022, Bankman-Fried contributed over $23 million to the PAC.[5]
2022 Democratic primary
POF spent funds in several 2022 Democratic primaries. In the 2022 Democratic primary between Shontel Brown and Nina Turner, POF spent at least $1 million in support of Brown,[6] largely on radio, TV, and digital ads.[3] This amount was significant, given that the Brown campaign itself raised $4 million.[3] POF spent at least $2 million for Georgia Representative Lucy McBath.[6]
POF spent at least $7 million in the 2022 Carrick Flynn campaign for Oregon district 6 Representative.[3] An opposing candidate alleged that POF coordinated with a Flynn campaign, an action illegal under federal law. POF denied this allegation.[7] The Flynn campaign may have coordinated with POF through a strategy called red-boxing, whereby the campaign highlights particular language on its website in a red box that POF replicated in its advertising.[8]
References
- ^ Metzger, Bryan (2022-08-30). "A crypto-funded super PAC poured more than $24 million into this year's Democratic primaries and became a top outside spender. Now, it's going dark". Business Insider. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
- ^ Adragna, Anthony (January 27, 2022). "A new Democratic super PAC has entered the chat: Protect Our Future will invest $10 million in Democratic primaries for lawmakers who take "a long term view on policy planning."". Politico.
- ^ a b c d Sloan, Karen James (May 3, 2022). "Crypto cash flows into midterm elections as the industry flexes its political clout". CNBC. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
- ^ Sutton, Sam; Montellaro, Zach (April 19, 2022). "Revealed: The $14M mystery behind a new crypto super PAC". Politico. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
- ^ Iwayemi, Timi (June 6, 2022). "Sam Bankman-Fried's Multimillion-Dollar Game". The American Prospect.
- ^ a b Grim, Ryan (April 15, 2022). "Crypto PAC Throws in $1 Million to Back Ohio Rep. Shontel Brown Over Nina Turner". The Intercept.
- ^ Monahan, Rachel (March 2, 2022). "Congressional Campaign Alleges Super PAC and Democratic Candidate for Oregon's New Seat Are Improperly Coordinating". Willamette Week.
- ^ Goldmacher, Shane (May 16, 2022). "The Little Red Boxes Making a Mockery of Campaign Finance Laws". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 June 2022.