Direct Contributions

In The Arena PAC, the leadership PAC affiliated with Rep. French Hill (R-AR), reported $1.45 million in total receipts through July 31, 2026. The PAC reportedly spent $1.43 million during the period, with $1.17 million deployed as contributions to other Republican political committees and candidates, while $208,558 went to operating expenditures including compliance consulting and administrative costs, according to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

The PAC's contribution strategy focused on direct transfers to both House and Senate Republican candidates rather than independent expenditures. Among House recipients, Miller-Meeks for Congress received the largest total contributions, with $28,500 across 13 transactions. Ken Calvert for Congress Committee and Young Kim for Congress each received $24,000. KIGGANS FOR CONGRESS received $22,500, IOWANS FOR ZACH NUNN received $22,000, STEIL FOR WISCONSIN, INC. received $22,000, and VALADAO FOR CONGRESS received $22,000.

Other House recipients included Don Bacon for Congress ($21,500), Monica for Congress ($21,500), and Kean for Congress Inc. ($20,500). Ann Wagner for Congress and Van Orden for Congress each received $20,000. BICE FOR CONGRESS received $13,500 across 6 transactions. In total, the PAC made contributions to dozens of House candidates.

On June 16, 2026, In The Arena PAC made a coordinated distribution to Senate candidates, contributing $5,000 each to 36 Republican Senate candidates, totaling $180,000. Recipients included Ted Cruz for Senate, Tim Scott for America, John Kennedy for US, Ted Budd for Senate, Ron Johnson for Senate, Rick Scott for Florida, and 30 additional Senate candidates. This single-day distribution represented a significant portion of the PAC's overall spending strategy.

Independent Expenditures Support:

In The Arena PAC reported no independent expenditures in support of candidates during the 2026 cycle through July 31. The PAC's strategy focused exclusively on direct contributions to other political committees rather than funding outside spending campaigns.

Independent Expenditures Oppose:

In The Arena PAC reported no independent expenditures opposing candidates during the 2026 cycle through July 31. The PAC did not deploy resources toward independent attack campaigns or opposition spending in any federal races.

Donors

The PAC received $481,738 in individual contributions and $656,000 in contributions from other political committees during the cycle through July 31, 2026. Top individual donors included Stephen A. Schwarzman ($5,000), Steven DeFrancis ($3,500), Mary DeFrancis ($3,500), and Michael Chae ($3,500). Corporate and association PACs funding the committee included Lockheed Martin Corporation Employees' Political Action Committee ($5,000), Mastercard International Inc. Employee PAC ($5,000), UBS Americas Inc. Political Action Committee ($5,000), Liberty Mutual Insurance Company PAC ($5,000), Citigroup Inc. PAC ($5,000), and the National Association of Mortgage Brokers PAC ($5,000).

The PAC also received a substantial transfer of $90,313.92 from Team Hill, Rep. French Hill's (R-AR) principal campaign committee, on June 30, 2026, demonstrating the interconnected funding between the leadership PAC and the member's personal campaign account.

Race-by-race Breakdown

In The Arena PAC did not report independent expenditures in specific federal races, instead functioning as a conduit for channeling funds directly to Republican candidate committees. The PAC's contribution model (direct transfers rather than race-specific spending) reflects the typical strategy of leadership PACs, which prioritize building relationships with allies and supporting party members across multiple contests rather than targeting resources to particular competitive races.

About the Organization

In The Arena PAC is a leadership PAC affiliated with Rep. French Hill, who has represented Arkansas second House District since 2015, and is based within his congressional district in Little Rock, Arkansas. The PAC was registered with the Federal Election Commission on August 8, 2016, and files on a monthly basis. Michael Goode serves as treasurer. The PAC does not maintain a publicly accessible mission statement on its own website. As of July 31, 2026, the PAC reported ending cash on hand of $251,054.25, an increase of $27,479 (12.3 percent) from its beginning cash position of $223,575.04, indicating growing financial reserves.

Rep. French Hill (R-AR) chairs the House Financial Services Committee. According to Issue One, a nonpartisan campaign finance reform organization, leadership PACs are a systemic mechanism for evading contribution limits and buying access. Issue One Executive Director Meredith McGehee has stated that leadership PACs exemplify the Washington D.C. swamp.

According to NOTUS, donors to In The Arena PAC have direct financial interests in Rep. French Hill's committee decisions, raising concerns about pay-to-play dynamics. Critics argue that industry donors' contributions to the PAC while Hill shapes legislation affecting them suggest a pattern of purchasing access and influence.

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