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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Trump targets Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky's record-spending primary

Trump has endorsed Ed Gallrein and repeatedly criticized Massie during the Kentucky primary campaign.

Trump targets Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky's record-spending primary
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This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026
Fox News
May 19, 2026
tl;dr

A preview of primaries in six states focuses on President Trump’s effort to defeat Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky, where more than $32 million has been spent on the House race. It also surveys other competitive House, Senate and gubernatorial contests.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Donald Trump R · President of the United States
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Trump in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Trump’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose endorsement and attacks feature in the Kentucky primary

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Kentucky representative facing a Trump-backed primary challenger

Massie's version of this story ↗
Tommy Tuberville
R · AL · SEN

Alabama senator and Republican gubernatorial candidate

Jon Ossoff
D · GA · SEN

Georgia senator seeking reelection

Former Republican Senate candidate who left the Kentucky race

Pete Hegseth
R · Secretary of Defense

Defense secretary who appeared with Gallrein at a campaign event

Mitch McConnell
R · KY · SEN

Kentucky senator retiring from the Senate

Mike Collins
R · GA-10

Georgia representative and Republican Senate candidate

Andy Barr
R · KY-6

Kentucky representative and Republican Senate candidate

Democratic Senate candidate in Kentucky

Barry Moore
R · AL-1

Alabama representative and Republican Senate candidate

Doug Jones
Former U.S. Senator (D-AL)

Former U.S. senator and Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Alabama

Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator whose renomination loss is cited as recent context

Republican candidate in Kentucky’s Senate primary

Republican Senate candidate in Georgia

Buddy Carter
R · GA-1

Georgia representative and Republican Senate candidate

Kentucky House candidate challenging Massie

ALSO MENTIONED  Brad Raffensperger, Georgia secretary of state and gubernatorial candidate; Brian Kemp, Georgia governor leaving office because of term limits; Burt Jones, Georgia lieutenant governor and Republican gubernatorial candidate; Chris Carr, Georgia attorney general and gubernatorial candidate; Derrick Jackson, Georgia state representative and Democratic gubernatorial candidate; Geoff Duncan, Former Georgia lieutenant governor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate; Jason Esteves, Former Georgia state senator and Democratic gubernatorial candidate; Kay Ivey, Alabama governor leaving office because of term limits; Keisha Lance Bottoms, Former Atlanta mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate; Mike Thurmond, Former Georgia labor commissioner and DeKalb County chief executive; Rick Jackson, Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate

Part of a bigger story

66 OUTLETS
Trump-Backed Ed Gallrein Defeats Thomas Massie in Kentucky Primary

Ed Gallrein defeated Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s Republican House primary. Donald Trump endorsed Gallrein and campaigned against Massie, making Trump’s influence part of coverage across the sides. Left-leaning outlets frame the result as a test of Trump’s influence and the consequences for Republicans who break with him. Center outlets focus on the primary as a test of Trump’s influence, generally reporting the result and campaign arguments in a descriptive way. Right-leaning outlets often cast Gallrein’s win as a victory for Trump’s endorsement, though some emphasize Massie’s conservative case or criticize Trump’s role.

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