David McIntosh, the president of the Growth Club, mentioned that the influential free-market PAC is currently undecided about supporting Rep. Thomas Massey (R-Ky.), who is facing a challenger endorsed by President Trump. This represents a shift, as the PAC has historically backed incumbents.
During a press conference on Thursday, McIntosh commented on his uncertainty regarding Massey’s actions, saying, “I don’t really understand what Mr. Thomas is doing these days. I’ve always been on the side of the Democratic Party.”
He added, “Nothing has been decided there. We’re going to go through the normal process.”
These remarks followed the recent announcement by former Navy SEAL Ed Garrein that he would challenge Massey, with Trump’s support.
The Club for Growth’s stance against Massey marks a notable change from its previous backing and fundraising efforts in 2020 when Massey faced a primary challenge from attorney Todd McMurtry.
In that election, McIntosh had praised Massey as a “firmly pro-growth conservative who consistently supports policies that grow the economy and create opportunity for all Americans.”
Massey’s campaign website highlights his impressive 93% career score on the Club for Growth scorecard, and he has received the “Defender of Economic Freedom” award ten times since 2013.
In light of McIntosh’s comments, Massey’s campaign pointed to other sources of support, saying, “In past elections, donors have supported Thomas Massey through the Club for Growth. This time, a newly formed independent super PAC called Kentucky First is backing his re-election.”
However, the circumstances have changed for Massey now.
After he pulled lawmakers back to Washington in 2020 to discuss a massive $2 trillion coronavirus aid package, Trump withheld formal endorsement of McMurtry, despite criticizing Massey for “grandstanding.” It’s worth noting that McMurtry’s previous social media comments about Trump became problematic during his campaign. Massey ultimately won that primary comfortably.
At one point, Trump and Massey were close allies, with Trump endorsing Massey in 2022. However, things soured when Massey opposed Trump’s major spending bill, citing concerns over the national debt, a proposal that the Club for Growth had strongly supported.
Massey also collaborated with Democrats to push for the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, which drew ire from the Trump administration. While Democrats aimed to link Trump to Epstein—an allegation Trump dismissed as a “hoax”—an anonymous statement from the White House suggested that supporting the petition would be viewed as antagonistic.
Now, Trump is directly opposing Massey, with allies committing significant resources to his defeat.
The pro-Trump super PAC MAGA KY, led by former Trump campaign associate Chris Lacivita and Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio, has spent nearly $500,000 already, with $1.5 million available in cash.
Massey’s criticisms of Israel and his vote against U.S. support have also intensified calls to unseat him, while MAGA KY’s funding has connections to prominent pro-Israel donors like Paul Singer, John Paulson, and Miriam Adelson.
Amid the backlash from Trump, Massey’s fundraising has surged. Reports indicate he has raised over $2 million, with $768,000 collected in the third quarter alone, showcasing a significant influx of support.
