David Hogg's PAC spent millions on consultants and fitness classes
A super PAC founded by gun control activist David Hogg spent nearly $9.3 million during the 2022 midterm elections, with significant portions going to consulting firms and digital ads, according to Federal Election Commission records. The expenditures also included $47,000 on yoga and fitness classes. Critics have questioned the efficiency of the spending amid limited electoral success.
David Hogg, a survivor of the 2018 Parkland school shooting and prominent gun control advocate, launched the super PAC Leaders We Deserve in 2021 to support progressive candidates. Federal Election Commission (FEC) records reviewed by Fox News reveal that the PAC raised over $10 million in contributions during the 2022 election cycle, primarily from small-dollar donors and some high-profile backers.
By the end of the cycle, Leaders We Deserve had disbursed $9.3 million, focusing on efforts to boost Democratic turnout and challenge Republican incumbents. A substantial $4.2 million was allocated to consulting firms, many of which are operated by Hogg's close associates and allies in the progressive movement. For instance, one firm received $1.2 million for strategic advising, while others handled fundraising and voter outreach.
Digital advertising consumed another $1.5 million, with campaigns targeting swing districts in states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. However, the PAC's spending extended to less conventional areas: $47,000 was spent on fitness and wellness programs, including yoga classes for staff, as part of employee wellness initiatives. Additional funds went toward travel, events, and operational costs, totaling over $1 million.
Hogg defended the expenditures in a statement to Fox News, saying, "Every dollar was spent to build a movement that lasts beyond one election cycle." He emphasized the PAC's role in mobilizing young voters and supporting underrepresented candidates, even if direct wins were few. The PAC backed figures like Summer Lee in Pennsylvania and Delia Ramirez in Illinois, both of whom won their races, but several other endorsed candidates fell short.
Critics, including some conservative commentators, have highlighted the spending as emblematic of inefficiencies in progressive organizing. One analyst noted, "Millions poured into consultants linked to the founder raise questions about accountability." Despite the scrutiny, Hogg's PAC continues operations into 2024, with renewed fundraising efforts underway. The FEC filings underscore the challenges of super PAC financing in modern elections, where transparency meets complex webs of vendor relationships.