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Republican Rep. Thomas Massie lost his Republican primary Tuesday in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, becoming the latest GOP incumbent defeated after drawing opposition from President Donald Trump.
Decision Desk HQ projected that Trump-backed candidate Ed Gallrein defeated Massie about 90 minutes after polls closed. With approximately 69 percent of votes counted, Gallrein led with 53.8 percent compared with Massie’s 46.2 percent.
“I want to THANK President Trump…thank you, Mr. President! For his support, his endorsement, and his counsel as I navigated this campaign,” Gallerin said on Tuesday night.
In an interview with Sean Hannity, Gallerin stated, “I want to thank the president, the conservative Republicans in this district, and my supporters and team, because this sends a message that we the people are going to stand up.”
Gallrein’s victory ended Massie’s tenure after 10 terms in Congress and capped one of the most closely watched Republican primaries of the year.
The race served as a major test of President Trump’s strong influence within the Republican Party. The president repeatedly targeted Massie over disagreements on government spending, foreign policy and criticism of Republican leadership.
“Bad Congressman Tom Massie voted against Tax Cuts, the Border Wall, our Military and Law Enforcement,” Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social. “Actually, he voted against almost everything that is good. The Worst Republican Congressman in History. Kentucky, vote the bum out on Tuesday. We can’t live with this troublemaker for another two years. He is a true negative force!!!”
The contest became one of the most expensive House primaries in the country, with outside political groups and national organizations spending heavily on advertising throughout northern Kentucky.
President Trump’s allies considered the race as an opportunity to defeat a Republican lawmaker they viewed as disloyal to the president and obstructive to the GOP agenda.
Gallrein now enters the general election as the favorite in Kentucky’s heavily Republican 4th Congressional District, where GOP candidates have historically dominated November elections.
