Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has endorsed Republican John Deaton in the Massachusetts Senate election. This came just days after Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen donated $10 million to Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
This divide among Ripple's key spokespeople reflects the growing bipartisan support for cryptocurrencies among American voters.
Ripple and the Elections
Ripple (XRP) CEO Brad Garlinghouse has expressed his support for crypto-friendly lawyer John Deaton ahead of the Massachusetts Senate election today.
Deaton is a Republican running against Democratic candidate Elizabeth Warren. While Warren has recently softened her stance against cryptocurrencies, she has long maintained a highly critical position on the matter.
"John Deaton has tirelessly fought for the XRP Army and the entire crypto industry. Meanwhile, his opponent, Senator Warren, spreads misinformation and lies about crypto. I passionately and wholeheartedly endorse his Senate bid. I encourage you to contribute to his campaign (I did!)... And most importantly... vote for him," he said.
Further reading: Ripple (XRP) Price Prediction 2024/2025/2030
However, Garlinghouse's endorsement highlights the division within the U.S. crypto community regarding the upcoming election. While the Ripple CEO is supporting the Republican Senate primary, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen has become a major supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
Just 10 days after donating around $1 million worth of XRP tokens to Harris, Larsen followed up with a $10 million donation. Garlinghouse has worked at Ripple for 9 years, 8 of them as CEO, after previously being in that role himself. Yet these long-time colleagues and key company representatives are supporting different sides.
Garlinghouse may have personal motivations regarding this Senate race. He publicly claimed earlier this year that the U.S. government was targeting Tether, and Warren has repeatedly argued that cryptocurrencies pose a new threat to the nation. Recent polls show Warren leading in this race, so Garlinghouse may be opposing her party rather than her specifically.
Further reading: Crypto Regulation: What Are the Pros and Cons?
Nevertheless, this partisan divide in Ripple's leadership reflects the growing bipartisan consensus on cryptocurrency support among American voters. The Democrats are consciously working to improve the negative image of cryptocurrencies, and Harris has touted several crypto-friendly campaign pledges. Meanwhile, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has often voiced support for cryptocurrencies.
Both the Republican and Democratic parties are trying to position themselves as the champions of the crypto industry in this election. This sentiment is ultimately expected to improve the overall environment for the crypto industry in the U.S.
