Trump-Backed Ed Gallrein Defeats Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky GOP House Primary

May 19, 2026

In a major display of his influence over the GOP, Donald Trump's endorsed candidate Ed Gallrein defeated incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky's 4th District Republican primary. The race, the most expensive House primary in U.S. history, saw Massie targeted for opposing Trump on key issues. The outcome continues a trend of Trump successfully ousting party detractors. In the Senate primary, Trump-backed Rep. Andy Barr also won the nomination.

Gallrein primary victory over Massie

▪Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL, will face Democrat Melissa Strange in the November general election.
▪Thomas Massie lost by more than 9 percentage points, with an estimated 97% of votes counted.
▪The primary for Kentucky's Fourth Congressional District was the most expensive House primary in U.S. history.
▪Ed Gallrein defeated incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in the Republican primary for Kentucky's 4th Congressional District.

Trump endorsement power in GOP

▪White House communications director Steven Cheung stated after the race, "Do not ever doubt President Trump and his political power."
▪Thomas Massie's loss is one of several recent primary defeats for Republicans who opposed Donald Trump, including Sen. Bill Cassidy in Louisiana.
▪Donald Trump endorsed and handpicked Ed Gallrein to challenge Thomas Massie.
▪After Thomas Massie's defeat, Donald Trump said, "He was a bad guy. He deserves to lose."

Massie's opposition to Trump

▪Thomas Massie, first elected in 2012 as part of the Tea Party movement, became an outspoken critic of the White House during Donald Trump's second term.
▪Thomas Massie co-sponsored a bill to force the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and criticized the war in Iran.
▪Thomas Massie was one of two House GOP members to vote against Donald Trump's signature tax and spending package.
▪In his concession speech, Thomas Massie said there is a "yearning in this country for someone who will vote for principles over party."

Pro-Israel groups campaign spending

▪Thomas Massie has voted against U.S. aid to Israel, arguing that he is generally against all foreign aid.
▪Pro-Israel interest groups, including the Republican Jewish Coalition Victory Fund, spent millions of dollars campaigning against Thomas Massie.

Barr Senate primary win

▪Andy Barr, who was endorsed by Donald Trump, defeated former state attorney general Daniel Cameron in the primary.
▪Rep. Andy Barr won the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell.
▪Andy Barr will face Democrat Charles Booker in the November general election for the Senate seat.