Thomas Massie Files to Run in 2028 After Primary Loss
On Sunday, Republican Congressman Thomas Massie from Kentucky announced his intention to run in the 2028 election after facing defeat in his recent primary. This challenge came from Ed Garlein, a candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
Massie has submitted a request to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to begin raising funds for his campaign. However, he remains undecided on which specific office he will pursue. In the primary, Massie lost by nine points, an outcome that followed a vigorous campaign against him by Trump, who cited Massie’s stance on various issues including his opposition to the Iran war, votes against significant legislation, and calls for the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
“I have filed with the FEC to run for the 2028 U.S. House of Representatives election. This will allow me to gather funds to further my political efforts, supporting my current role and any future pursuits in federal office,” Massie shared with The X on Monday afternoon. He clarified that he hasn’t finalized his decision about which position, if any, he will aim for.
The recent primary was remarkable for its financial intensity, totaling $32 million in advertising, making it the most expensive primary for the U.S. House in history. Significant contributions came from organizations like AIPAC, which invested around $9 million in efforts to unseat Massie, celebrating Garlein’s win.
Garlein attracted over $63,000 in direct funding for his political action committee from groups such as the Republican Jewish Coalition and AIPAC’s super PAC, in addition to more than $11.8 million in independent expenditures. Meanwhile, groups opposing Massie spent around $15 million, while various PACs supporting him contributed over $10 million.
MAGAKentucky, a pro-Trump super PAC, allocated more than $7 million in its attempts to defeat Massie. In a lighthearted moment during his concession speech, Massie mentioned his unsuccessful attempt to contact Garlein in Tel Aviv to offer his congratulations.
Throughout his congressional career, Massie has been vocal in his criticism of foreign aid and military engagements, particularly regarding Israel and the Iran conflict. He challenged President Trump’s military actions against Iran, labeling them unconstitutional. In May, Israel accused the U.S. of being manipulated into the ongoing conflict with Iran, which began in February.
Trump’s remarks about Massie have not been kind; at a rally in March, he referred to him as a “complete and utter disaster,” and previously used the term “fool” during a National Prayer Breakfast when discussing Massie’s push for the Epstein document release.
