Massie Files for 2028 House Race After Primary Loss

Representative Thomas Massie has taken steps to run for his Kentucky seat in the U.S. House in 2028, following his defeat in the Republican primary to Ed Gallrein, a candidate backed by Trump.

On Monday, Massie (R-Ky.) shared on X that he had filed the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission for the upcoming House race.

“This allows me to raise funds to continue my political operations supporting my position as a current office holder and as a potential candidate for federal office,” he mentioned. “I haven’t made a final decision about which office to seek, if I run.”

Massie recently lost to Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL, in a primary that set records for election spending.

While conceding, he expressed some strong feelings during his speech. He noted a delay in his concession, stating, “I would’ve come out sooner, but I had to call my opponent and concede. And it took a while to find Ed Gallrein in Tel Aviv.”

Leading up to the Kentucky primary, President Trump had posted critical remarks about Massie on Truth Social, labeling him as the “worst ‘Republican’ Congressman in the History of our Country.”

Known as a libertarian Republican, Massie frequently opposes federal spending increases, even voting against his party at times. He has been critical of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” and has voiced concerns about the administration’s stance regarding the conflict between Israel and Iran.

During his concession, he even criticized Trump’s plans for a ballroom in the White House, saying, “While gas is almost five dollars and diesel’s almost six, they’re talking about this big ballroom they’re going to build. And it looks like the Roman Empire… I see a few analogies there.”

Massie has mentioned he’ll take some time to “decompress” after over a decade in office before deciding his next steps. Some supporters have suggested he might consider a run for president, yet he has not confirmed this.

The 2028 general election is scheduled for November 7, with Kentucky’s presidential primaries set for May 16, according to the anticipated primary calendar.