U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie lost Kentucky’s Republican primary Tuesday to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein in what became one of the most expensive U.S. House primary races in history, with nearly $33 million spent on ads and other media content.
Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL, centered his campaign on support for President Donald Trump and accused Massie of abandoning both the President and the Republican Party. He is now favored in the general election against Democrat Melissa Strange in the heavily Republican district.
After the results were announced, Massie addressed supporters during a speech that lasted more than 20 minutes, as the crowd chanted slogans including “No more wars” and “America First!”
“We stirred up something. There is a yearning in this country for someone who will vote for principles over party,” Massie said, the Associated Press reported.
Massie also criticized what he described as naive loyalty to Trump within Congress.
“If the legislative branch always votes whichever way the wind is blowing, then we have mob rule,” he said. “But if lawmakers follow the Constitution, we have a republic.”
The congressman ended his remarks by hinting at a possible future campaign, telling supporters, “We’ll talk about it later,” in reference to 2028.
Gallrein delivered a shorter speech at his election gathering in Covington, where he thanked Trump for supporting his campaign. Trump visited Kentucky in March to campaign alongside Gallrein.
Speaking with reporters after Massie’s defeat, Trump said, “He was a bad guy. He deserves to lose,” AP reported.
White House communications director Steven Cheung also commented on social media, writing: “Do not ever doubt President Trump and his political power.”
The primary intensified in its final weeks as Massie attempted to rally support from other Republicans, including Rep. Lauren Boebert, to convince voters that backing him was not opposition to Trump.
Trump responded with repeated social media attacks, calling Massie the “worst Congressman in the long and storied history of the Republican Party” and “an obstructionist and a fool.”
Massie argued throughout the race that he supported Republican priorities most of the time and said his disagreements with the party stemmed from issues involving national debt and military conflicts, including the war with Iran.
“He and Trump had the same campaign promises, and he stuck with them,” supporter Jeanine Thomas said at Massie’s election party, AP reported. “He was courageous enough to not toe the line when it was going against what he had promised his constituents that he would do, and unfortunately, he was punished for it.”
Massie also faced criticism over his opposition to U.S. aid for Israel and accusations of antisemitism, which he denied. He repeatedly stated that he opposed foreign aid broadly, not specifically aid to Israel. The race drew millions of dollars in spending against him from pro-Israel groups, including the Republican Jewish Coalition Victory Fund.
During his concession speech, Massie referenced outside involvement with a joke aimed at his opponent. “I would have come out sooner, but I had to call my opponent and concede, and it took a while to find Ed Gallrein in Tel Aviv,” Massie told supporters.
