It's been more than a month since U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles lost the GOP primary in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District to former Tennessee Agricultural Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, but the PAC that helped Hatcher win is not letting people forget that fact.
On I-40 heading east toward the Nashville International Airport, there is a billboard that says, "Hey Andy, looking for work? Solar's hiring." That billboard belongs to the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, a federal super PAC that formed in January 2026 with a mission of backing candidates who support renewable energy.
Ogles' defeat came on Aug. 6, with Hatcher receiving 53.24% of the vote and Ogles receiving the remaining 46.76%, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State.
The loss marked the
fourth time a Tennessee U.S. House incumbent had lost a primary contest in the past 100 years.
The recently erected billboard on the side of I-40 is the not the only political ad targeting Ogles funded by the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, as the PAC spent $2 million on Hatcher's campaign in the final days of the race.
In addition to the billboard, the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition also created the "Lyin' Andy" ad campaign, which featured a TV commercial, a website and the central claim that Ogles has a poor attendance record in the U.S. House.
What is the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition?
Backed by renewable energy supporters and Clean Choice Energy CEO Tom Matzzie, Invest in Tomorrow receives 90% of its funding, roughly $6 million, from Silicon Valley investor and crypto executive Chris Larsen, according to Tennessean reporting.
Larsen has donated extensively to the Democratic Party, financing campaigns for U.S. House and Senate Democrats and Kamala Harris, and has said he would support California Gov. Gavin Newsom if he ran for president in 2028.
Invest in Tomorrow's ties to the Democratic Party were part of Ogles' rhetorical Hail Mary to gain more support in the final days before the primary, as he argued that he was being targeted by backers of Kamala Harris.
What was the 'Lyin' Andy' ad campaign against Andy Ogles?
Appearing on screens across Tennessee during the primary race, the "Lyin' Andy" ad campaign focused on five primary talking points. The chief item being Ogles' congressional voting attendance record, which is 98 missed roll-call votes, the "Lyin' Andy" website reports.
In addition to his attendance record, Invest in Tomorrow's campaign also highlighted allegations involving funds intended for a child burial ground that was never built, and the House Ethics Committee's probe into Ogles that resulted in his phone being seized by the FBI in 2024.
Peter Burditt covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact him at PBurditt@nashvill.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: After Rep. Andy Ogles loses seat, Nashville billboard has an offer for him
