It is used by the Federal Election Commission to describe a committee with certain spending and contribution limitations.
[5] The Hybrid PAC has its origins in the Carey v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) case, in which retired United States Navy Rear Admiral James J. Carey, Kelly Eustis, and the National Defense Political Action Committee filed suit against the FEC on January 31, 2011.
[6] Dan Backer, Carey's attorney in the case, argued that the current laws governing campaign contributions prohibited "a nonconnected political committee from soliciting and accepting unlimited contributions to one bank account designated for independent expenditures, while maintaining a second, separate bank account designated for source- and amount-limited contributions to candidates and their authorized political committees.
[8] Thirteen hybrid PACs were formed within five months of the Carey v. FEC decision.
[2] As of 2024, Americans for Prosperity, a twenty year old Hybrid PAC, has spent "$257 million (US) to support conservative congressional and presidential candidates.