Trump-backed Gallrein beats Massie in Kentucky GOP primary, ABC News projects
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie will lose his reelection bid to Ed Gallrein, who was backed by President Donald Trump, in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, ABC News projects.
A conservative libertarian, Massie has been the subject of Trump's ire, given his push to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, his vote against the president's sweeping domestic tax policy legislation and his vocal opposition to the Iran war.
Trump told reporters at the White House Congressional Picnic Tuesday evening, "On the Massie thing: He was a bad guy. He deserves to lose."
Speaking to supporters Tuesday night, Massie said, "We weren't really running against Ed Gallrein, we weren't running against Donald Trump. We were running for what we believe in."
Gallrein credited the president for his win.
"I'll keep this short. I want to thank President Trump for his support, his endorsement, and his counsel as I navigated this campaign, which is a journey of unto itself, and for his courageous leadership of our nation at this critical time, I want to emphasize that this critical time and juncture in history. Thank you, Mr. President," Gallrein said.
Trump endorsed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and a fifth-generation farmer, before he even launched his bid for Congress, and the president admitted that he was willing to support just about anyone in order to oust Massie.
"I wanted just -- give me somebody with a warm body to beat Massie, and I got somebody with a warm body, but a big, beautiful brain and a great patriot," Trump said alongside Gallrein earlier this year.
The race is the most expensive House primary in history: $32.6 million was spent in advertising and ad reservations, according to AdImpact.
On the Senate side, ABC News projects that Trump-backed Rep. Andy Barr will win the Republican primary as voters weighed in on who will succeed Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former Senate majority leader and the state's longest-serving senator who is retiring after more than 40 years in Congress.
Barr was facing former attorney general and former gubernatorial candidate Daniel Cameron.
Both candidates have past ties to McConnell, though they have made clear attempts to distance themselves from the senator, who represents establishment Republicanism.
Trump waded into the race earlier this month, asking businessman Nate Morris to step aside and take a role in the administration and backing Barr. Morris' name remained on the ballot, but his votes will not be counted, according to the Kentucky Secretary of State.
State significance
Kentucky has sided with Trump for the past three presidential elections, with Trump winning the state by 30 points in 2024.
The predominantly red state is led by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who was first elected in 2019 and reelected in 2023. But Kentucky has not seen a Democratic senator since Wendell Ford, who served from 1974 to 1999.
