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Trump tightens grip on GOP after Massie's defeat in Kentucky primary – US politics live | US midterm elections 2026

Rabb won the Democratic primary and described the result as a victory for the campaign’s grassroots supporters.

Trump tightens grip on GOP after Massie's defeat in Kentucky primary – US politics live | US midterm elections 2026
Image · The Guardian

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This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026
May 20, 2026
tl;dr

The live blog covers Republican primary results and Trump’s influence over the party, including Thomas Massie’s defeat, alongside criticism of a proposed federal compensation fund and other national and foreign-policy developments. Chris Rabb won Pennsylvania’s Democratic primary for the state’s third congressional district.

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VOTING CLOSED
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No good or bad look here

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

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

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Democratic candidate who won the primary for Pennsylvania’s third congressional district

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator criticizing Trump’s proposed ballroom funding and compensation fund

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

President whose statements and actions feature throughout the live blog

Trump's version of this story ↗

Pennsylvania congressman opposing the proposed compensation fund

Fitzpatrick's version of this story ↗
John Ratcliffe
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

CIA director mentioned in connection with a visit to Havana

Todd Blanche
R · Attorney General

Acting attorney general discussing the proposed fund and announcing the Castro indictment

Richard Burr
Former U.S. Senator (R-NC)

Former senator mentioned as a Republican who retired rather than run without Trump’s support

Susan M. Collins
R · ME · SEN

Senator mentioned in connection with the coming midterm election

Mitt Romney
Former U.S. Senator (R-UT)

Former senator mentioned as a Republican who retired rather than run without Trump’s support

Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Kentucky congressman whose primary defeat is noted

Patrick J. Toomey
Former U.S. Senator (R-PA)

Former senator mentioned as a Republican who retired rather than run without Trump’s support

Lisa Murkowski
R · AK · SEN

Senator mentioned as having defeated a Trump-backed Republican challenger

Candidate in Pennsylvania’s third congressional district Democratic primary

Candidate in Pennsylvania’s third congressional district Democratic primary

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

Former vice president mentioned in reference to the district’s 2024 vote

Benjamin Sasse
Former U.S. Senator (R-NE)

Former senator mentioned as a Republican who retired rather than run without Trump’s support

Markwayne Mullin
Secretary of Homeland Security

Secretary of Homeland Security praised by Trump during a commencement speech

Democratic Senate candidate mentioned as a possible challenger to Susan Collins

ALSO MENTIONED  Barney Frank, Former member of Congress whose death is noted in a daily recap; Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister mentioned in a question to Trump; Fidel Castro, Former Cuban leader mentioned as Raúl Castro’s brother; Gavin Newsom, California governor criticizing the proposed compensation fund; Jeff Landry, Louisiana governor and Trump’s envoy to Greenland; Nicolás Maduro, Venezuelan leader referenced as a comparison for a possible U.S. operation in Cuba; Raúl Castro, Former Cuban president indicted by the United States; Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, Cuban official mentioned as having met with the CIA director; Vicente de la O Levy, Cuban energy minister quoted about the country’s fuel oil shortage; Vladimir Putin, Russian president mentioned in a question about his visit to China; Xi Jinping, Chinese president mentioned in a question to Trump

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