Full Breakdown
Clean Energy Investors Defeat Anti-Renewable Republican in Texas Primary
5/31/2026, 5:20:02 AM
Election Outcome and Campaign Spending
The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC, a group of clean-energy investors, contributed more than $1 million to the May 2026 Republican runoff for Texas attorney general and spent $1.1 million on television and digital ads that highlighted Representative Chip Roy’s clashes with former President Donald Trump. Roy, who led the 2025 effort to abolish manufacturing tax credits for wind, solar, electric-vehicle and other clean-energy production, lost the runoff to conservative state senator Mayes Middleton.
Background & Context
Roy had led a legislative effort the previous year to repeal manufacturing tax credits for wind, solar, electric-vehicle, and other clean-energy production that were enacted by the Biden administration. The proposed repeal was framed as a rollback of federal incentives for renewable technologies, positioning Roy as a leading opponent of the state’s emerging clean-energy sector.
Key Figures & Groups
The coalition is directed by Thomas Matzzie, a renewable-energy executive, and receives substantial backing from Chris Larsen, the billionaire co-founder of the cryptocurrency platform Ripple. Other contributors include renewable-energy developers and philanthropists. On the opposing side, Chip Roy served as a U.S. Representative, while Mayes Middleton, a conservative state senator, secured the Republican nomination.
Financial Scale of the Coalition’s Effort
The PAC reported having $15 million available for political activity nationwide. In the Texas primary, it allocated $1.1 million to advertising and contributed more than $1 million directly to the campaign, indicating a capacity for additional spending in upcoming congressional and state contests.
Official Statements & Strategic Goals
Matzzie told reporters that the coalition’s purpose is to build a pro-clean-energy majority in Congress, irrespective of party affiliation. The group emphasizes support for Republican candidates who favor wind and solar development while also backing Democratic allies, aiming to shape national policy through electoral influence.
Criticism & Opposition
Middleton attacked Roy for lacking sufficient loyalty to President Trump, a charge amplified by the coalition’s ads that portrayed Roy as “not MAGA enough for Texas.” Critics argue that the coalition’s spending represents a partisan effort to reshape energy policy through electoral leverage, contending that the focus on political victories may sideline broader policy debates.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is an effort to shape a pro-clean-energy majority in the Congress, regardless of party,” — Thomas Matzzie, Renewable-Energy Executive
- “not MAGA enough for Texas.” — Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC advertisement
Implications for National Energy Policy
The successful defeat of a high-profile anti-renewable legislator signals the coalition’s willingness to intervene in contested races. By targeting incumbents who oppose manufacturing tax credits, the group aims to protect federal manufacturing tax credits for wind, solar, and electric-vehicle production, aligning with its stated aim of shaping a pro-clean-energy majority in Congress.
What’s Next
The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC plans to deploy its $15 million in funds across forthcoming elections, focusing on races where Republican candidates support renewable-energy incentives. Observers anticipate intensified spending in swing districts and additional advertising campaigns that frame clean-energy policy as a bipartisan priority.
