FRANKFORT, Ky. (Diya TV) — Former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein defeated longtime Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s Republican primary for the 4th Congressional District, according to NBC News projections. The result marks another political victory for President Donald Trump as he continues to target Republicans who oppose parts of his agenda.
Gallrein’s victory came after months of pressure from Trump and his allies. Trump strongly backed Gallrein and traveled to Kentucky in March to campaign against Massie. During the visit, Trump called Massie a “disaster” and urged Republican voters to replace him.
Massie had represented the district since 2012. He built a national profile as a libertarian conservative and frequent critic of government spending. He also opposed several major Trump-backed policies, including the president’s spending package known as the “big, beautiful bill.”
The Kentucky primary became one of the most expensive and bitter Republican contests of the year. Pro-Trump groups and pro-Israel organizations spent millions of dollars on television and digital advertising to weaken Massie and support Gallrein. MAGA KY, a super PAC led by Trump adviser Chris LaCivita, launched aggressive attacks against Massie. The ads focused on immigration and border security issues tied to Trump’s spending bill.
Groups linked to the Republican Jewish Coalition and American Israel Public Affairs Committee also spent heavily in the race. Their campaigns targeted Massie after he criticized U.S. involvement in the conflict with Iran. According to AdImpact, more than $33 million went into advertising during the primary. Roughly $19 million supported Gallrein or attacked Massie.
Massie supporters fought back with their own campaign ads. One commercial, titled “Tucked Tail And Ran,” used military imagery to criticize Gallrein for leaving the Republican Party during Trump’s first term. The ad portrayed Gallrein abandoning Trump on a battlefield.
Massie often argued that Congress should remain independent from the White House, even when one party controls both branches of government.
“There’s a portion of the electorate who doesn’t believe that Congress should be independent,” Massie said in a recent interview. “They believe that, when the Republicans control the White House and Congress, Congress should just do whatever the president wants.”
Massie also gained attention for supporting efforts to release Justice Department files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He worked on the issue with Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California.
During the campaign, Massie accused Gallrein of avoiding public debates and candidate forums. He said Gallrein relied almost entirely on Trump’s endorsement instead of answering questions from voters. Gallrein kept a low profile throughout the race. Still, support from Trump remained a powerful force in the district.
The final days of the campaign brought even more national attention to Kentucky. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared with Gallrein at a campaign event Monday. The Defense Department said Hegseth attended in a personal capacity, though the appearance raised questions because defense secretaries rarely participate openly in political campaigns. Rep. Lauren Boebert also entered the political fight after campaigning with Massie. Trump later warned he could withdraw his endorsement of Boebert because she supported the Kentucky congressman.
Kentucky was not the only Republican primary shaped by Trump’s influence this month. In Louisiana, Sen. Bill Cassidy failed to advance in the Republican primary for his re-election campaign. Cassidy had angered many Republican voters after voting to convict Trump during his impeachment trial following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Trump-backed candidates Julia Letlow and John Fleming advanced to the June 27 runoff election. Trump also celebrated victories in Indiana, where several Republican state lawmakers who resisted a Trump-supported congressional redistricting effort lost their primaries. The recent results highlight Trump’s continuing dominance inside the Republican Party. Candidates who oppose him or challenge his agenda now face major political risks, even in strongly conservative states.
