Unfit to Print
Welcome back! We’re diving into a heap of primary results from last night, including Trump’s late-stage endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
FIGHT NIGHT
President Donald Trump showcased his influence in the Republican primaries on Tuesday night. He played a crucial role in unseating long-time incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s 4th District and helped Rep. Andy Barr prevail in the Kentucky Senate primary.
In a different contest, the candidate Trump supported in the Georgia gubernatorial race came in second and will head to a runoff.
The spotlight was on Massie, who has held his seat since 2012. As a libertarian-leaning congressman, he has often been critical of Trump, addressing issues ranging from the Epstein files to the conflict in Iran and the national debt. Trump backed Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL, as a challenger, and significant financial support flowed into the race from Trump’s allies and AIPAC.
Leading up to the election, I heard whispers from Kentucky sources suggesting that Massie’s ground campaign was faltering, and nerves were setting in.
Ultimately, Massie lost by about ten points. In his concession speech, he humorously remarked that he “would have come out sooner, but I had to call my opponent to concede, and it took a while in Tel Aviv.”
Other Republican incumbents have faced the Trump-tide in a more obvious way. For instance, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy finished third in his primary after voting to convict Trump during his second impeachment. Former Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger also voted for his impeachment in the House.
Massie presented a unique challenge for Trump since his dissent came from the president’s right. Earlier this year, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene similarly criticized Trump for straying from ‘America First’ principles and announced her resignation after Trump hinted at supporting a primary challenger.
Will Trump now target those who stood against him on the Massie issue, like Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert?
Alongside the chaos of Tuesday’s results were the outcomes in the Kentucky Senate primary, the Georgia gubernatorial primary, and an unexpected endorsement from Trump.
