Massie Loses Primary to Trump-Endorsed Opponent
Rep. Thomas Massie from Kentucky faced defeat in Tuesday night’s House primary against Ed Garline, a contender backed by former President Trump. This outcome marks another win for the “Make America Great Again” movement.
Garline, a farmer and ex-Navy SEAL, secured a victory in the 4th Congressional District, garnering 54.4% of the votes compared to Massie’s 45.6% based on 74% of votes counted when the Associated Press announced the results just before 8 p.m.
Trump has been vocal about wanting to oust Massie, particularly after the congressman diverged from the president on a key vote and pushed for the release of documents related to the late Jeffrey Epstein. On the day of the primary, Trump even spoke to reporters about the situation.
This loss for Massie follows Trump’s recent success in the Louisiana Republican Senate primary, where he backed a challenger against Sen. Bill Cassidy, who had previously voted to convict Trump during his impeachment trial related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol events.
Additionally, Trump has hinted at possibly targeting Rep. Lauren Boebert from Colorado in her upcoming primary election on June 30.
The primary in Kentucky set records as the most expensive in U.S. history, with over $32 million spent on political advertisements, as reported by AdImpact.
Various pro-Trump and pro-Israel groups have invested heavily in efforts to remove Massie, citing his votes that went against support for Israel and opposition to Trump’s broader agenda.
Garline, previously unsuccessful in a Senate run in 2024, entered the race after Trump and his associates criticized Massie for opposing major tax and spending legislation known as the One Big Beautiful Act.
A Super PAC backing Garline has even labeled Massie with derogatory terms, to which Massie reacted by calling those claims defamatory during a debate involving members of the “Squad” in Congress.
In recent years, Massie’s votes included opposition to significant funding for Israel’s missile defense system and against condemning Hamas for a massacre in Israel that resulted in the loss of 1,200 lives, including many Americans.
Garline has been referred to by Trump as a “true American patriot” while the former president criticized Massie as harmful to the Republican cause and a liability to conservative values.
Massie responded to Trump’s attacks by asserting his alignment with the president’s policies, despite the fierce contention. He has labeled Garline as “woke” and emphasized his own base of support from various conservative groups.
Notably, Massie gained attention last year for his push to require the justice system to disclose information regarding Epstein and his associates, including Ghislaine Maxwell.
While Trump promised to release information related to the Epstein case during the 2024 election, the topic became complicated for his administration due to his past associations with some individuals involved.
Massie defended himself against Trump’s criticisms, arguing that he stands firm on issues that resonate with Republican voters, unlike Garline, who he described as lacking engagement and authenticity.
After the 2020 election, Garline switched back to the Republican Party after previously registering as an independent.
In his final statements before the votes were counted, Massie expressed support for Trump, emphasizing his alignment with pro-life and Second Amendment ideals. Yet, he maintained that he was up against an uninspired candidate, accusing Garline of not being forthcoming with his positions.
