Gen Z Group’s Financial Records Made Public
David Hogg, a prominent gun control activist, is facing scrutiny for his political action committee (PAC) and its use of donations from supporters. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show that Hogg’s group, Leaders We Deserve PAC, has raised millions of dollars since its creation in the aftermath of the 2022 midterm elections. However, a closer look at the FEC filings reveals that a large portion of the funds has not gone towards fulfilling the group’s stated mission of electing Generation Z politicians, but instead towards lavish expenses and political consultants.
According to the FEC records, Leaders We Deserve PAC raised over $3 million in 2023 from a diverse group of donors. These include high-profile names such as filmmaker Alexander Adell, Tusk Holdings CEO Bradley Tusk, and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, among others. While the group received some larger donations, the majority came from small-dollar donors giving less than $250 each.
Despite raising significant funds, the group only spent a fraction of it on electing candidates. FEC filings show that only about $263,000 was used for this purpose in 2023. This amount includes donations to just four candidates and a handful of Democrat Party committees and organizations. Notably, the group gave over $120,000 to candidate Sylvia Swain, who ultimately lost her election in Alabama’s House District 55. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the group’s spending on candidates.
The majority of the group’s expenditures were not in line with its stated mission, but rather on personal expenses, political consultants, and legal fees. The FEC records reveal that over a million dollars was spent on these items, including more than $550,000 on a political consulting firm called Middle Seat and over $80,000 on legal fees to Elias Law Group, headed by prominent Democrat lawyer Marc Elias.
Additionally, the group also spent more than $35,000 on travel and entertainment expenses, including flights, hotels, and restaurants. These expenses were spread across several payments to various services, such as Uber and Lyft, suggesting a high level of luxury and convenience.
Moreover, the PAC has also disbursed large sums of money to its leaders, David Hogg and his business partner Kevin Lata. Hogg himself received nearly $40,000 in payroll payments, while Lata received over $50,000 in the same period. This raises questions about the group’s intentions and priorities, as a significant portion of the funds was used to compensate its leaders instead of achieving its stated mission.
Notably, Hogg’s group has received criticism for its lack of transparency and accountability. The group has not responded to requests for comment from several media outlets, including Breitbart News. This raises concerns about the proper use of donations from supporters, especially since Hogg has previously emphasized the need for accountability in the political sphere.
Some of the criticisms against Hogg’s PAC also stem from its lack of tangible results. Despite raising millions of dollars, the group has only managed to contribute to the campaigns of a handful of candidates, and with little success. Furthermore, most of the candidates supported by the PAC were already in office, suggesting a lack of focus on the group’s long-term goal of electing young politicians.
In response to these criticisms, the group has defended its actions, stating that it is providing resources and support to young Democrat candidates. Hogg has also touted the success of previous social movements, claiming that a new generation of politicians needs to be elected for real change to occur.