Rep. Thomas Massie becomes latest GOP incumbent to fall in primary after Trump backs challenger

Trump-backed Ed Gallrein defeated Rep. Thomas Massie in the Republican primary for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District on Tuesday, CBS News projected.

Massie is the latest Republican incumbent to fall in a primary to a challenger backed by President Trump, who has successfully targeted a number of Republicans he considered his opponents in recent primaries.

Last week, Massie billed himself as the “main event” of Mr. Trump’s revenge tour.

Massie conceded to Gallrein in a speech Tuesday, capping a primary race that he said “lasted longer than Vietnam.” He stuck to his guns, highlighting his disagreements with Mr. Trump over aid to Israel, the war in Iran and the willingness to release files on Jeffrey Epstein. He argued that people in Washington “tried to buy my vote” but “couldn’t buy it.”

Asked about Massie’s loss, Mr. Trump told reporters Tuesday night: “He was a bad guy. He deserves to lose.”

Trump allies celebrated Gallrein’s victory. Former Trump 2024 campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita wrote on Earlier, LaCivita posted a photo of Mr. Trump showing his middle finger.

“Never doubt President Trump and his political power,” White House communications director Steven Cheung wrote on social media, likely in reaction to Massie’s loss. “F*** around, find out.”

In an interview Tuesday night, Gallrein told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that Massie “went against us” by voting against legislation supported by Mr. Trump and most congressional Republicans, noting the president’s strong performance in the district in the 2024 election. He also claimed that Massie “burned every bridge” in Washington and that “radical Democrats loved him.”

The race in northern Kentucky was the most expensive primary in history, with pro-Israel interest groups pumping millions of dollars into unseating Massie, who is a thorn in Mr. Trump’s side.

In an interview with CBS News On Monday, Massie said spending by pro-Israel interest groups had caused more disruption in the race than the president’s spending. In a typical year, Massie said he would have won the primary with 80 percent of the vote. He estimated that Mr. Trump’s support for Gallrein had lowered his support to 60 percent, and that spending by the pro-Israel lobby had further eroded it.

“I think what would have been a 60-40 race is now a 50-50 race,” Massie said, citing Gallrein’s support from the America-Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, the Republican Jewish Coalition and Republican Party megadonors such as Miriam Adelson.

AIPAC congratulated Gallrein for defeating what they described as “anti-Israel incumbent President Thomas Massie.”

Massie voted against Mr. Trump’s tax cut law, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, last year and spearheaded efforts to force the Justice Department to release documents related to Epstein, a convicted sex offender. He also opposed the war with Iran and questioned the legality of the military operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats around Venezuela.

His opposition provoked Mr. Trump, who campaigned for Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL.

“They want 100 percent compliance,” Massie said.

In recent days, Mr. Trump has lashed out at Massie and the congressional Republicans who campaigned on his behalf. The president called Massie “the worst ‘Republican’ congressman in history” and said he would support a challenger to one of those Republicans, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, whom he called “feeble-minded.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Kentucky on Monday to campaign with Gallrein, arguing that the candidate would fall in line behind Mr. Trump. Hegseth said he was there in a personal capacity, although the visit marked a break from the long-standing practice of military officials avoiding partisan activities.

“When the movement needs unity, especially in the most important moments, Massie is ready to vote with Democrats,” Hegseth said. “President Trump needs reinforcements, and that’s what fighters do. They stand behind the leaders and support them. Fighters understand the mission, they understand teamwork, they understand loyalty. And they understand that in the middle of a fight, you don’t weaken your own side.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, declined to endorse Massie, telling reporters last week that he was staying out of the race.

“It’s no secret that Thomas Massie has criticized me at times, but I never take that personally,” Johnson said.

Johnson nevertheless acknowledged that it would be “helpful to have a more reliable vote” because Republicans have a slim majority in the lower house.

Massie said last week that his defeat would deprive some of the Republican voters who helped the party win the White House and a majority in the House.

“If I leave… the tent will have been significantly reduced and it will be more difficult to win a majority in the fall,” he said.

Massie has represented the district since 2012, when he won a special election to replace GOP Rep. Geoff Davis who resigned citing a “family health issue.”