Photo: Alamy
A congressional candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump in Kentucky’s 4th district is within striking distance of unseating Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., in the Republican primary next week in what has become one of the most expensive and intense primary battles in history.
Rep. Massie, a longtime libertarian-type Republican in Congress, has drawn the ire of President Trump during this second term, prompting the president to endorse a primary challenger, Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL.
“I hope Ed gets into the Race against Massie, who is now polling at about 9% because the Great People of Kentucky are wise to him — He only votes against the Republican Party, making life very easy for the Radical Left,” President Trump noted angrily in a Truth Social post last year.
The political battle lines were drawn the moment Gallrein announced his candidacy last fall, drawing questions about how Massie – who endorsed President Trump in 2024 – would fare against a Trump-endorsed challenger.
According to Axios, the Kentucky primary has been fueled by an astonishing $25.6 million in ad spending in the Bluegrass State, which reportedly makes it the “most expensive U.S. House primary in history.”
The Republican Jewish Coalition, as well as the United Democracy Project (an AIPAC super PAC) have notably poured millions into this congressional race to help Gallrein, the report said.
Gallrein’s campaign, while Trump-endorsed and heavily funded, hasn’t been quite as visible as Massie’s, which may play into how voters cast their ballots next week. Gallrein has skipped opportunities to publicly debate Massie, which has also given the incumbent candidate increased access to Kentuckians in the 4th district.
Gallrein’s perceived absence on the debate stage seems to have helped his opponent. Massie’s support among Kentuckians remains fairly steady. Recent polling from Big Data showed Massie leading Gallrein at 52 to 48 percent, and a poll from Qauntus Insights showed Massie leading again at 46.8 percent to Gallrein’s 37.7 percent, per The Ironton Tribune.
Still, with just a few points between the candidates, anything could happen. In an ad heading into the final week of primary campaigning, Massie declared, “It’s beyond humbling you’ve trusted me. Our nation and Kentucky have enormous challenges and problems, but after every visit home to Kentucky and talking with you and holding my grandchildren, I’m more renewed than ever to keep fighting.”
In an X post over the weekend, Gallrein’s account argued, “Kentucky deserves results — not grandstanding. Thomas Massie promised term limits. Now he wants an 8th term. When President Trump needs votes to secure the border, cut taxes, protect family farms, and advance the America First agenda, Massie votes no.”
