Trump-backed challenger unseats Thomas Massie in Kentucky GOP primary, reinforcing president’s hold on party

Thomas Massie lost Kentucky’s Republican House primary on Tuesday, marking another test of President Donald Trump’s influence over the party after his preferred candidate, Ed Gallrein, defeated the longtime congressman.

The outcome underscored Trump’s continued sway among Republican voters and added to a growing list of Trump-backed challengers defeating GOP figures who had fallen out of favor with him during his second term. Massie, one of the party’s most outspoken independent voices, had repeatedly diverged from Trump on key issues, including calls to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, criticism of the Iran conflict, and opposition to the president’s signature tax legislation.

Massie, who has represented Kentucky in Congress since 2012, attempted to persuade voters that support for him and Trump did not have to be mutually exclusive. After the results were declared, he addressed supporters before an energized crowd chanting “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.

He also took aim at unquestioning loyalty within Congress, arguing that lawmakers should prioritize constitutional principles over political momentum. “If the legislative branch always votes whichever way the wind is blowing, then we have mob rule,” he said, adding that adherence to the Constitution preserves “a Republic.”

Gallrein, speaking at his victory gathering in Covington, thanked Trump for his backing and highlighted his own military background and allegiance to the president. The former Navy SEAL had centered his campaign on service and loyalty, accusing Massie of abandoning both Trump and the Republican Party. He is widely expected to defeat Democratic nominee Melissa Strange in the heavily Republican district.

Trump had personally traveled to Kentucky in March to boost Gallrein’s campaign.

The race intensified in its final weeks as Massie sought support from fellow Republicans, including Lauren Boebert, in an effort to convince voters they could support both him and Trump. Trump, meanwhile, escalated his attacks on social media, calling Massie “an obstructionist and a fool,” while Gallrein appeared alongside Pete Hegseth on the campaign trail.

The contest ultimately became the most expensive US House primary in history.

Elsewhere in Kentucky, Republicans selected Andy Barr as their Senate nominee to succeed Mitch McConnell. Backed by Trump, Barr defeated former Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron in a race viewed as a symbolic passing of the torch within the Republican Party.

Massie’s campaign faced another challenge from powerful pro-Israel groups after his opposition to US aid for Israel drew criticism and allegations of antisemitism — accusations he denied, saying his stance reflected broader opposition to foreign aid generally. The race attracted millions of dollars in spending against him, including support from the Republican Jewish Coalition Victory Fund.

Meanwhile, Trump’s influence also shaped Kentucky’s Senate contest. Candidate Nate Morris exited the race after being offered an ambassadorship and urged his supporters to back Barr, further consolidating support behind Trump’s preferred choice.

The results highlighted how deeply Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement continues to shape Republican politics, even as some long-serving conservatives struggle to balance independence with loyalty to the party’s dominant figure.