Key takeaways:
- Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL recruited by Donald Trump and MAGA allies, defeated Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District Republican primary.
- The primary was the most expensive House primary in history, with over $33 million spent, including significant funding from pro-Israel groups like AIPAC and the Republican Jewish Coalition.
- Massie opposed Trump on key issues including voting against a reconciliation package with tax cuts and opposing foreign aid to Israel, leading to Trump’s active campaign against him.
Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and farmer recruited by former President Donald Trump and his MAGA allies, has defeated incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in the Republican primary for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District. Gallrein’s victory, projected by multiple news outlets including CBS News and NBC News, marks another success for Trump’s campaign to unseat Republicans who oppose his agenda.
Massie, who has represented the district since 2012, was a prominent critic of Trump and House GOP leadership. Known for his libertarian views and deficit hawk stance, Massie frequently broke with Trump on key issues, including opposing the war with Iran, voting against Trump’s reconciliation package dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” which included tax cuts, and pushing for the release of Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein. He also opposed foreign aid to Israel.
Trump actively campaigned against Massie, visiting Kentucky in March to endorse Gallrein and calling Massie the “worst ‘Republican’ congressman in history.” Trump’s Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth campaigned for Gallrein in his personal capacity. This unprecedented political involvement by a sitting defense secretary prompted at least one legal advocacy firm to request an investigation into whether it violated Pentagon policies. Hegseth emphasized the need for party unity behind Trump.
The primary was the most expensive House primary in history, with over $33 million spent on advertising. Pro-Trump and pro-Israel groups, including AIPAC and the Republican Jewish Coalition, invested heavily to support Gallrein and oppose Massie. Massie estimated that Trump’s endorsement reduced his support from an expected 80% to about 60%, with pro-Israel spending further narrowing the race to roughly 50-50. Gallrein ultimately secured approximately 54% of the vote with over 70% counted.
Massie conceded the race on Tuesday, noting the contest “went on longer than Vietnam” and reaffirming his positions on issues where he disagreed with Trump. He criticized attempts by Washington interests to buy his vote, which he resisted. Massie said his loss would disenfranchise a segment of Republican voters and make it harder for the party to maintain its House majority.
House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to endorse Massie and expressed a desire for a more reliable vote as Republicans manage a narrow majority.
Trump allies celebrated Gallrein’s win. Chris LaCivita, a former Trump 2024 co-campaign manager, said GOP voters want representatives who reflect their views and that Massie “failed Republicans on all counts.” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung posted on social media, “Do not ever doubt President Trump and his political power. F*** around, find out.”
Massie’s defeat follows other recent losses for Republicans who opposed Trump-backed candidates, including state lawmakers in Indiana and Senator Bill Cassidy in Louisiana. The results underscore Trump’s continued influence over GOP primaries and his efforts to consolidate control over the party by removing dissenters.
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