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Kentucky 4th District Primary Results (Estimated)
Vote share percentage comparison between Ed Gallrein and Thomas Massie.
Primary Sources
Victory for Trump: Thomas Massie defeated in Kentucky primary
Long-time Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) is projected to lose his Kentucky House primary election. According to projections from Decision Desk HQ on Tuesday, the high-stakes race in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District has been clinched by Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL and farmer who was endorsed by President Donald Trump.The structural shakeup officially terminates Massie’s 14-year tenure representing the deep-red district. The primary battle garnered intense national scrutiny, transforming into an extraordinarily bitter ideological war zone that shattered all historical spending records for a congressional primary. The campaign brought prominent national figures to the state to push voters across the finish line. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth flew to Kentucky on Monday to personally campaign for Gallrein. Simultaneously, President Trump utilized his massive platform on Monday to deliver a final blow, renewing his public demand that Massie be “thrown out of office."Massie, a steadfast libertarian Republican, has spent over a decade building a reputation for an uncompromising independent streak. However, he found himself increasingly isolated and at odds with the White House over the past year on issues of paramount importance to the executive branch.The maverick congressman helped spearhead the legislative push demanding the administration release files on Jeffrey Epstein, frequently lambasted the establishment's foreign policy consensus, and aggressively voted against Trump’s signature tax and spending legislation, citing principled fiscal concerns about skyrocketing deficit spending.Among the issues of contention between Massie and Trump was the US foreign aid to Israel. Massie has repeatedly voted against military assistance packages to Israel, including being the sole Republican to oppose $1 billion in Iron Dome funding in 2021 and the only GOP member to vote against a 2023 resolution affirming US support for Israel's military actions in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attacks.Massie has also been a vocal opponent of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), introducing legislation to require it to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and highlighting what he sees as its outsized influence in U.S. politics through campaign spending.
Ed Gallrein defeats Thomas Massie in Kentucky primary - USA TODAY
Updated May 19, 2026, 8:00 p.m. ETUpdate:Massie loses to Gallrein in House race, NBC saysOriginal report:Thomas Massie and Ed Gallrein are facing off in a nationally watched Republican congressional primary in Kentucky's 4th District.Gallrein was endorsed by President Donald Trump while Massie, the incumbent, has feuded with the president recently.Get live results once the polls close in Kentucky at 6 p.m. ET.More results: Kenton County || Boone County || Campbell County || State & Federal
Republican Thomas Massie who stood up to Trump defeated in Kentucky primary
With an estimated 72 percent of the vote counted, Ed Gallrein led with 54.4 percent to Massie’s 45.6 percent.US President Donald Trump has tightened his grip on the Republican Party as Kentucky voters ousted one of the few conservative lawmakers willing to openly challenge his authority.Congressman Thomas Massie‘s defeat, which was predicted by US news networks, including NBC and CNN, about two hours after polls closed on Tuesday, marks another victory in Trump’s campaign to punish dissent within Republican ranks.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4How Thomas Massie came to represent Republican dissent in age of Trumplist 2 of 4Massie race breaks spending record as pro-Israel groups target Trump criticlist 3 of 4‘Cotton picking’: US lawmaker condemned for racist comment about Jeffrieslist 4 of 4Trump faces slew of ‘bad options’ on Iran as diplomacy faltersend of listWith an estimated 72 percent of the vote counted, former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein led with 54.4 percent of the vote to Massie’s 45.6 percent.The Associated Press news agency called the race for Gallrein, whose campaign was backed by Trump’s endorsement as well as millions of dollars from pro-Trump and pro-Israel political lobby groups.The contest, widely described as the most expensive House of Representatives primary in US history, saw more than $32m spent on advertising and offered the latest evidence of Trump’s hold over Republicans. It followed the primary defeat on Saturday of another Trump critic, Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, as well as losses for dissenting Republican state lawmakers in Indiana earlier this month.“Massie got Trumped. Donald Trump is the sun and the moon and the stars in the Republican Party in Kentucky,” Kentucky-based Republican strategist TJ Litafik said.A test of Trump’s influenceThe Kentucky vote was closely watched as a test of whether Trump’s hold on Republican voters remained firm despite concerns over his war on Iran, growing inflation and declining personal approval ratings, and whether there was still space in the party for lawmakers willing to break with him.Massie had angered Trump by opposing US military action in Iran and Venezuela, criticising aid to Israel, resisting parts of the president’s agenda, and backing efforts to release files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.The president spent months attacking Massie, a libertarian-leaning seven-term congressman, calling him a “moron”, a “nut job” and a “major sleazebag”.“Dealing wi...
Thomas Massie loses Kentucky primary to Trump-backed opponent Ed Gallrein
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