Hitting Home PAC
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Hitting Home PAC was a 527 organization founded by Pete Buttigieg in 2017.[1] Buttigieg launched the PAC in June 2017, several months after his failed bid for the Democratic National Committee chairmanship in its 2017 election.[2]
Hitting Home PAC was a Carey committee, also known as a "Hybrid PAC", a type of 527 organization which is a hybrid of a super PAC and traditional PAC.[1] The organization aimed to support the Democratic Party in the 2018 election cycle.[3] It aimed to refocus the party to place an emphasis on the message that it would "protect and support people going about their lives."[4] Buttigieg stated a desire for the PAC to focus on supporting heartland Democrats.[5]
It was shut down in May 2019, amid Buttigieg's presidential campaign.[2]
Expenditures
The PAC raised $403,503, and spent nearly all of it by the end of the 2018 election cycle. A total of $399,267 was spent by the PAC during the 2018 cycle.[6][7] Before being shut down in 2019, the PAC raised an additional $5,970 and spent an additional $10,206 in the 2020 cycle.[8]
Only 10% of the PAC's spending directly supported candidates, with a mere $37,000 given to candidates.[9] This has led to an accusation by HuffPost that the PAC did little but spend money to boost Buttigieg's image.[10] Of the $37,000 given directly to candidates, $36,000 was distributed among 22 different Democratic candidates for the United States House of Representatives.[11] The sole United States Senate candidate to receive a contribution from the PAC was fellow Indiana politician, Joe Donnelly, who received $1,000.[11]
The PAC paid $70,000 to Lis Smith, who served as Buttigieg's spokesperson and subsequently became the communications director for his presidential bid.[10] The PAC paid $27,500 to Michael Schmuhl, who was the PAC's treasurer and subsequently became Buttigieg's presidential campaign manager.[10] The PAC's finance director was paid $34,500.[10] A major Democratic media consulting firm was paid $28,500.[10]
References
- ^ a b Arke, Raymond (January 23, 2019). "Buttigieg debuted Washington ambitions through 2018 PAC donations". Open Secrets. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
- ^ a b Breuninger, Kevin; Schwartz, Brian (May 14, 2019). "Pete Buttigieg shuts down PAC as rival 2020 Democrats reject PAC money". CNBC. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
- ^ Buttigieg, Pete (June 22, 2017). "Hitting Home: a new politics of the everyday". Medium. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
- ^ Cramer, Ruby (June 22, 2017). "Democratic Mayor Launches PAC Aimed At "Politics Of The Everyday"". Buzzfeed News. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
- ^ Parrott, Jeff (August 12, 2018). "Pete Buttigieg backers donate thousands to help him but aren't banking on a presidential run". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- ^ "FEC Itemizer". ProPublica. August 12, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- ^ "Hitting Home PAC Summary | OpenSecrets". www.opensecrets.org. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- ^ "Hitting Home PAC Summary | OpenSecrets". www.opensecrets.org. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- ^ "Buttigieg debuted Washington ambitions through 2018 PAC donations". OpenSecrets. January 23, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Robillard, Kevin (November 26, 2019). "Pete Buttigieg's PAC Was Supposed To Help Elect Democrats. It Mostly Touted Him". HuffPost. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Hitting Home PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates, 2018 cycle | OpenSecrets". www.opensecrets.org. Retrieved November 27, 2019.