A renewable energy super PAC spent $2 million to help a former agriculture commissioner take out a Trump-endorsed Freedom Caucus incumbent in Tennessee's redrawn 5th District, and the money trail tells you everything about who's buying influence in Washington.
Charlie Hatcher defeated Rep. Andy Ogles in Thursday's Republican primary despite President Trump's endorsement of the incumbent — a rare loss for the president this cycle. The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, funded by renewable energy developers, dumped $2 million into the race since mid-July, according to the New York Times. That kind of outside spending doesn't happen by accident. Green energy interests wanted Ogles gone, and they got what they paid for.
Hatcher, a dairy farmer who served under Republican Gov. Bill Lee, ran as pro-Trump without the president's backing. His campaign website took a shot at Ogles without naming him:
