Hitting Home PAC

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]