Solar PAC Unseats Trump-Backed Republican, Sends Warning to Congress
A well-funded political action committee backed by solar energy executives scored its biggest victory yet Thursday, helping to unseat conservative Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee despite vocal support from President Donald Trump. The win sends a clear message to lawmakers who oppose renewable energy incentives.
The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC spent $2 million opposing Ogles and boosting Republican primary opponent Charlie Hatcher, more than both candidates combined. The group, launched by solar industry leaders, is now poised to target other Republicans in future elections.
How the Solar PAC Targeted a Conservative Republican
Ogles was the third Republican this year to lose a race after being targeted by the super PAC. The group was created by solar executives who wanted to retaliate against Republicans actively working against renewable energy policies.
Tom Matzzie, CEO of CleanChoice Energy and chair of the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, made the group's intentions clear in a statement. 'We will continue to punish members of either party who want to play politics with American jobs, energy security, and utility prices. The entire map is in play and we will take this fight across the country through November.'
The PAC's ads did not mention clean energy. Instead, they targeted conservative voters by boosting Hatcher's right-wing credentials and criticizing Ogles for missing votes. The group used a similar strategy against Texas Rep. Chip Roy in his unsuccessful attorney general bid and South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman, who lost his campaign for governor.
Why These Lawmakers Were Targeted
Lawmakers like Ogles, Roy, and Norman pushed Republican leaders in Congress last year for a quick phaseout of renewable energy incentives in the One Big Beautiful Bill act. That move angered solar industry backers who saw it as a direct threat to their business.
Michael Brune, former executive director of the Sierra Club and co-founder of the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, explained the group's long-term strategy. 'The clean energy industry's political muscle is only getting stronger and more intimidating. So our hope here is that clean energy will go back to being a bipartisan issue, and maybe one of the few issues that all Americans can agree on. But before we get there, we've got to continue our retribution tour and take out a few more members who have voted the wrong way.'
The Money Behind the PAC
Chris Larsen, the PAC's top backer, has contributed $6 million of its $6.8 million total. He has called the group's advocacy 'political warfare.' Larsen, co-founder of Ripple Labs, drew lessons from the crypto industry's political spending. Ripple helped fund Fairshake, a super PAC that has spent more than $200 million to unseat unfriendly politicians.
'The worst that you want in a political fight is for your opponents to think you're weak,' Larsen said at a May event.
Ogles fired back as voters went to the polls Thursday, proudly taking credit for the tax credit rollbacks. He said the government should not be supporting 'some libtard in California that's a billionaire,' an apparent reference to Larsen.
'They literally are trying to make an example out of me to try to strike fear in other Republicans. Which is why, if they prevail, this will have a chilling effect to the conservatives in Congress,' Ogles said on Nashville's Morning News.
Race Details and Trump's Involvement
The 5th District race, a safe Republican seat, was not on the national radar until recent weeks. Invest in Tomorrow got involved after a poll it commissioned last month showed Ogles at 36.9 percent support among likely primary voters, just four points ahead of Hatcher.
The group's $2 million in spending overshadowed Ogles' $632,000 and Hatcher's $614,000, based on the latest disclosures. The only other super PAC spending in the race was from the Freedom Caucus Fund, which spent $789,000 supporting Ogles and opposing Hatcher.
Trump got involved to bolster Ogles. 'I'm asking all of you to get out and vote for Andy Ogles. He's been a friend of mine. He's been a terrific guy,' the president said during a July 28 tele-rally.
Hatcher got a boost when Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee endorsed him. A veterinarian, Hatcher served as state agriculture commissioner under Lee from 2019 to 2025.
What This Means for Iowa and Other States
The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition already has its eyes on Iowa. In June, the PAC supported Iowa Republican Rep. Marinnette Miller-Meeks in her primary race with $125,000 in spending. Miller-Meeks leads the Conservative Climate Caucus and helped ease the phaseout of wind and solar credits.
A Republican strategist, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said he was not worried about the clean energy group's impact on the GOP because it was going after select hard-right figures.
'I'm not all worried about the impact on members,' said the strategist, who supports Hatcher but was not involved in the race. 'That PAC is doing what any sophisticated committee does that hates the Ogles type — get rid of the filth for a governing conservative in a red seat.'
Industry Reaction and Future Outlook
The Solar Energy Industries Association, which recently brought on former Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty as its president, is not planning to start attacking candidates.
'We're in the business of making friends, not making enemies,' Pawlenty said on the POLITICO Energy podcast last month. 'There's other outside groups who may want to do that. Our goal is to try to solar in a positive, constructive way and support people who support the policies that will be beneficial to advancing renewable, clean, reliable, quick energy.'
The PAC's gloves-off approach may be showing conservatives the power of clean energy money, but it remains to be seen whether other industry advocates will follow its lead. For now, the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition has made its mark, and lawmakers across the country are taking notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC?
The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition is a super PAC backed by solar energy executives and donors. It was launched to target lawmakers who oppose renewable energy incentives, using aggressive advertising and spending to unseat them in primary elections.
How much money did the PAC spend in Tennessee?
The PAC spent $2 million opposing Rep. Andy Ogles and supporting his primary opponent Charlie Hatcher. This amount exceeded the combined spending of both candidates in the race.
Has the PAC been active in Iowa?
Yes. In June, the PAC supported Iowa Republican Rep. Marinnette Miller-Meeks in her primary race with $125,000 in spending. Miller-Meeks leads the Conservative Climate Caucus and has worked to ease the phaseout of wind and solar credits.
What does this mean for other Republican lawmakers?
The PAC's success in unseating three Republicans this year sends a warning to lawmakers who oppose renewable energy incentives. The group has said it will continue its 'retribution tour' and target more members who vote against clean energy policies.