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]
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]
2018 candidate recipients of Hitting Home PAC Funds[11]
