Solar-energy group that spent $2 million in Tennessee race takes credit for incumbent congressman's 6-point defeat

A rural Tennessee congressman lost his seat in Thursday's Republican primary election, and a solar-energy lobby is taking credit and sounding a warning to those who oppose the industry.

Rep. Andy Ogles
(Photo by Mark Humphrey, AP)

Rep. Andy Ogles of the recently redrawn Fifth District lost "after the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC spent $2 million — more than the combined spending of both Ogles and his challenger Charlie Hatcher," a former state agriculture commissioner, Timothy Cama reports for E&E News, a publication of Politico. Hatcher got 53 percent.

“Our goal is to make sure people choose not to cross the industry,” Tom Matzzie, CEO of solar company CleanChoice Energy and chair of the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, told Politico. “I think this is by far our biggest step forward in terms of accomplishing our goal, and it definitively sends a signal that our deterrence is real, and that we will get involved.”

The PAC's spending against Ogles “was its biggest since launching earlier this year. It also got the most national attention, assisted by Ogles criticizing the group,” E&E News reports. “The super PAC, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money, has spent in a handful of races this year, targeting what it sees as the top foes of the renewable energy sector. So far, that has mostly meant opposing the most vocal supporters of quickly ending renewable tax credits in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the signature GOP tax law, with advertising meant to appeal to conservative audiences.” That's a change for Matzzie. who worked for the AFL-CIO and ran MoveOn.org, a progressive group.

E&E News concludes, “President Donald Trump, who had endorsed Ogles in his race and hosted a tele-rally for him, appeared unfazed by the loss Friday, writing on Truth Social that the lawmaker 'had virtually no chance of winning' and calling Hatcher a 'Great "Trump" Candidate.'” The Nashville Banner notes, “Ogles has consistently generated controversy and scrutiny since emerging from a crowded Republican primary in 2022. He has filed incorrect and late campaign finance disclosures, misled the public about his resume and said 'Muslims don’t belong in American society.'”