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The Latest: Gallrein defeats Massie in Kentucky, furthering Trump's hold on GOP | Pennsylvania State News

Massie lost his primary after Trump campaigned to unseat him over disagreements including the release of the Epstein files.

The Latest: Gallrein defeats Massie in Kentucky, furthering Trump's hold on GOP | Pennsylvania State News
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459 stories · 96–97 · updated Oct 7, 2026

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LancasterOnlinevia Associated Press
May 19, 2026
tl;dr

Ed Gallrein defeated Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s Republican primary, a result the article presents as another sign of President Donald Trump’s influence over GOP voters. The AP roundup also reports primary results and runoff contests across several states.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Thomas Massie R · KY-4
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

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

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Republican incumbent defeated in Kentucky’s congressional primary

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Republican candidate who defeated Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s congressional primary

Gallrein's version of this story ↗
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who backed Gallrein and campaigned against Massie

Trump's version of this story ↗

Pennsylvania state representative who won the Democratic primary for an open House seat

Democratic representative who will face Patti Adair in the general election

Bucks County commissioner who won the Democratic primary to challenge Brian Fitzpatrick

Progressive candidate defeated by Janelle Stelson in the Democratic primary

Tommy Tuberville
R · AL · SEN

Senator who won the Republican nomination for Alabama governor

Democratic Senate candidate advancing to an Alabama runoff

Jon Ossoff
D · GA · SEN

Democratic senator who will face the Republican nominee in November

Representative whose seat Bob Harvie will challenge

Republican Senate candidate who withdrew and backed Andy Barr

Democratic candidate who won the primary to challenge Scott Perry

Mitch McConnell
R · KY · SEN

Senator stepping down from the Kentucky seat contested in the Republican primary

Mike Collins
R · GA-10

Representative and Republican Senate candidate advancing to a Georgia runoff

Andy Barr
R · KY-6

Representative who won the Kentucky Republican Senate primary

Former Republican Senate candidate mentioned in connection with Vince Dooley’s endorsement

Democratic primary candidate defeated by Christopher Rabb

Barry Moore
R · AL-1

Representative advancing to a runoff for Alabama’s Republican Senate nomination

Pennsylvania state senator and defeated Democratic primary candidate

Republican candidate who won the primary for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District

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

Former senator and Democratic nominee for Alabama governor

Kamala Harris
Former U.S. Senator (D-CA)

Democratic presidential candidate referenced in a description of Brian Fitzpatrick’s district

Former Kentucky attorney general defeated in the Republican Senate primary

Democratic Senate candidate advancing to an Alabama runoff

Representative who endorsed Christopher Rabb

Dwight Evans
D · PA-3

Representative retiring from the Philadelphia-area House seat

Scott Perry
R · PA-10

Representative whose seat Janelle Stelson will challenge

Republican Senate candidate advancing to a Georgia runoff

Buddy Carter
R · GA-1

Representative who did not advance to the Georgia Republican Senate runoff

Representative whose seat is among Pennsylvania Democrats’ targeted districts

Democratic candidate defeated by Bob Harvie in the primary

ALSO MENTIONED  Barbara Dooley, Derek Dooley’s mother and a former congressional candidate; Blake Evans, Georgia election official who explained late polling-place closures; Bruce Starr, Oregon state senator who helped lead the gas-tax referendum campaign; Burt Jones, Georgia lieutenant governor and Republican gubernatorial runoff candidate; Chris LaCivita, Trump’s 2024 co-campaign manager who celebrated Massie’s defeat online; Christine Drazan, Republican candidate for Oregon governor; John F. Street, Former Philadelphia mayor and Sharif Street’s father; Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania governor whose endorsed candidates won contested primaries; Keisha Lance Bottoms, Former Atlanta mayor and Democratic nominee for Georgia governor; Ken McFeeters, Republican gubernatorial primary opponent who challenged Tuberville’s residency eligibility; Matt Tyser, Georgia deputy secretary of state who discussed a polling-place extension; Rick Jackson, Business executive and Republican candidate advancing to Georgia’s gubernatorial runoff; Stacy Garrity, Pennsylvania state treasurer and Republican gubernatorial nominee; Steven Cheung, Trump spokesperson who celebrated Gallrein’s victory online; Tina Kotek, Oregon governor and Democratic gubernatorial nominee; Vince Dooley, Late University of Georgia football coach and Derek Dooley’s father

Part of a bigger story

37 OUTLETS
Thomas Massie Loses Kentucky Republican Primary to Ed Gallrein

Thomas Massie lost Kentucky’s Republican primary to Ed Gallrein, whom Donald Trump backed. Left-leaning outlets link the loss to Massie’s clashes with Trump and consider what it means for Republican dissent. Center outlets mainly present it as a test of Trump’s influence, while some focus on Massie’s Epstein-files dispute or post-loss plans. Right-leaning outlets mostly treat it as a victory over Massie, though Reason emphasizes the setback for limited-government politics.

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