A clean-energy super PAC backed by a billionaire Democratic donor is unleashing a multimillion-dollar advertising barrage against one of President Donald Trump\u2019s closest allies in Congress\u2014just days before Tennessee Republicans choose their nominee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition has spent approximately $1.3 million opposing Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., and promoting his Republican challenger, former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher. The group recently committed another $700,000 for the closing days of the campaign, bringing its total investment in the race to roughly $2 million, according to Fox News Digital<\/a> and Axios<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ogles argues the onslaught is no ordinary primary intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen you have a group spending roughly $2 million in a Republican primary, that tells you how much money they\u2019re making off of government subsidies,\u201d Ogles told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Tennessee Republican accused renewable-energy interests of attempting to punish him for supporting the rollback of Biden-era tax credits and subsidies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re upset that the government welfare has been taken away from them,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Election Commission records show the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition raised nearly $6.8 million through June 30, despite registering with the agency only in January. The super PAC reported more than $5.1 million in cash on hand at the end of that period, according to its FEC filings<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fox News Digital reported that $6 million of the PAC\u2019s funding came from Chris Larsen, the California billionaire who co-founded the cryptocurrency company Ripple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Larsen has an extensive history of supporting Democratic candidates and organizations. His previous donations include millions for the super PAC that backed Kamala Harris\u2019s 2024 presidential campaign, along with contributions benefiting Democratic congressional committees, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Jane Fonda Climate PAC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Axios also identified Larsen as a major supporter of California Gov. Gavin Newsom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The billionaire has made climate activism a central focus of his philanthropy and has invested in climate-technology companies and funds. Ogles, however, says the spending in Tennessee is intended to send a warning to other Republicans who oppose federal energy subsidies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Invest in Tomorrow Coalition Chairman Tom Matzzie made clear that the group sees Ogles as part of a broader political campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur campaign is here to show that politicians who oppose clean energy do so at their own political peril,\u201d Matzzie, who also serves as CEO of the solar company CleanChoice Energy, told Axios. \u201cAndy Ogles is next.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ogles, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, has repeatedly voted to reverse renewable-energy initiatives enacted under former President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But he believes his close relationship with Trump has also placed a target on his back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s because I\u2019m close to the president,\u201d Ogles told Fox News Digital. \u201cIt is because I am outspoken.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump has endorsed Ogles and held a late-campaign tele-rally encouraging Tennessee Republicans to support him. The president described Ogles as a loyal ally who has \u201calways been there when we needed him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs the Trump-endorsed candidate in this race, I am being targeted by left-wing liberals from California because I am one of President Trump\u2019s closest allies,\u201d Ogles said separately in a statement obtained by Axios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ogles still faces a potentially dangerous contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A poll commissioned by the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition found Ogles leading Hatcher 37% to 33%, with approximately 30% undecided. The survey questioned 400 likely Republican primary voters and carried a five-point margin of error\u2014making the race a statistical dead heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The poll was paid for by a group actively working to defeat Ogles and should be viewed in that context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hatcher has also out-raised the incumbent. Axios reported that Hatcher collected approximately $720,000 through July 17, compared with $610,000 for Ogles. Hatcher entered the final stretch with $105,000 available, while Ogles had $58,000 and approximately $70,000 in campaign debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The challenger has secured endorsements from former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and former Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. His background as a farmer and former state agriculture commissioner could also prove valuable after redistricting shifted the 5th District toward more rural and agricultural communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ogles faced another well-funded primary challenge in 2024 but prevailed with 56.5% of the vote, according to Ballotpedia<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ogles maintains that he supports an \u201call-of-the-above\u201d energy policy but opposes allowing Washington to select favored industries through subsidies.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDemocratic Megadonor Fuels PAC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Trump Rallies Behind Ogles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Energy Fight Reaches The Ballot Box<\/h2>\n\n\n\n