John Deaton, a lawyer known for his advocacy for XRP holders and his previous run against Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren in the 2024 US election, is launching another campaign for Congress.
At an event held in Worcester, Massachusetts, on Monday, Deaton announced his intention to run for the US Senate again in 2026. This time, his target is Democratic Senator Ed Markey. Deaton, who ran as the Republican candidate in 2024, lost to incumbent Democrat Elizabeth Warren by approximately 700,000 votes.
"I’m winning this time," Deaton stated in a campaign video that was shown at the Worcester event.
Deaton, who has declared he will run as a Republican to unseat Senator Markey, is likely to face competition from candidates on both sides of the political spectrum in the 2026 race. While his campaign announcement did not specifically highlight digital asset policy, Deaton and Senator Warren have previously engaged in debates regarding their differing views on cryptocurrency.
Deaton garnered significant attention within the cryptocurrency industry for his representation of XRP holders in Ripple Labs' legal dispute with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
In the upcoming 2026 race, Seth Moulton, who currently represents Massachusetts’s 6th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives, is considered a Democratic contender. Senator Markey, who will turn 80 next year, has a voting record that includes opposing the passage of the GENIUS stablecoin bill. He has also publicly criticized crypto mining for its substantial electricity consumption.
A Potential Repeat of the 2024 Election Dynamics?
Mason Lynaugh, community director of Stand With Crypto, commented on Deaton's announcement, stating, "We’re never going to not be excited about someone advocating for [crypto] policy. He’s going to have his own voters he’s going to cultivate that are very excited to see someone like him saying these types of things publicly."
The prospects for Deaton's success in a state that traditionally leans Democratic remain uncertain.
During his previous Senate campaign in 2024, Deaton received support from cryptocurrency executives from prominent companies such as Ripple, Gemini, and Kraken. These executives contributed over $360,000 to his campaign during the first quarter of 2024.