Chip Roy’s Defeat in Attorney General Race

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) sought to succeed Ken Paxton as Texas attorney general but was defeated by state Sen. Mays Middleton in the recent Republican primary runoff. It appears that his loss was significantly influenced by a coalition of green energy advocates keen on preserving the federal support he aimed to challenge in Congress.

The Investment Coalition for Tomorrow PAC, based in California, enthusiastically celebrated Roy’s defeat. This political group aims to hold accountable lawmakers like Roy who attempted to cut federal subsidies to renewable energy companies.

“This is a political war,” the PAC remarked, noting that it had invested $1.7 million to thwart Roy’s campaign. In a statement on May 26, they highlighted their role in ending Roy’s political ambitions, spending nearly $1.5 million to reach Republican voters via various media platforms, including conservative cable and social media.

Interestingly, the PAC has endorsed former President Donald Trump and sends messages to MAGA supporters, even as Roy suggested these connections were misrepresented.

In February, the PAC asserted on Truth Social that Roy’s voting record was scrutinized and criticized. Despite receiving a 100% Liberty Score from the Conservative Party Review and a 98% lifetime score from Heritage Action, it was conveyed that “MAGA is not good enough for Texas.”

The PAC was spearheaded by Peter Davidson, CEO of Aligned Climate Capital, and Brendan Bell, its chief operations officer and treasurer. Both have experience from the Obama administration’s Department of Energy.

Davidson pointedly explained they viewed Roy as a substantial threat. He suggested that the negative rhetoric towards renewable energy stemmed from Roy and the Freedom Caucus, who aimed to erase green energy tax credits and diminish the industry’s reputation.

Last year, Roy and Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.) co-sponsored a bill to eliminate multiple green energy tax incentives introduced by the Biden administration, a move projected to save taxpayers a considerable amount while rocking the boat of what Roy labeled the “Green New Scam.” He emphasized, “These subsidies need to be abolished immediately.”

Even as the PAC celebrated Roy’s loss online, his determination remained intact. In a bold response, he stated, “I declared war. I led efforts to dismantle the crony ‘Green New Fraud’ agenda, and I’m just getting started.”

Billionaire Chris Larsen, a key donor to the PAC targeting Roy, has been involved in various initiatives focused on climate change. Recently, he disclosed plans to influence conservative voters by adapting appropriate rhetoric to align with right-wing viewpoints.

Larsen shared that their strategies included overwhelming Roy’s campaign with negative advertisements, framing it as a political battleground. Although he admitted that Middleton may not align perfectly with climate initiatives, the goal was to make an example of Roy.

Roy’s defeat isn’t seen as isolated. The PAC has elaborated on its agenda to target more politicians who dare to challenge the supportive structures behind renewable energy. They plan to allocate substantial funds to ensure that clean energy advocates succeed in upcoming elections.

Looking ahead, the PAC has already outlined additional targets among Republican representatives who oppose taxpayer-backed renewable initiatives, indicating that Roy won’t be the last to face such opposition.

As the PAC states, “Attacking clean energy will end your career, just like Chip Roy’s.”