Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump’s handling of the Epstein files and recent foreign policy decisions, was defeated May 19 in the most expensive House primary in American history.
Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL and fifth-generation dairy farmer who has not previously held any elected office, beat the seven-term incumbent 55% to 45% in Kentucky’s heavily Republican 4th District.
More than $32 million flooded the race in television, digital, and other advertising — shattering the previous record for a House primary. Pro-Israel groups poured over $9 million into efforts to defeat Massie, while Trump-aligned super Political Action Committees (PACs) and major Republican donors added millions more to support Gallrein.
The outcome delivers a clear victory for Trump’s campaign to purge critics within his party and for pro-Israel organizations extending their spending tactics — long used against liberal Democrats — into Republican primaries.
Massie’s position on foreign aid
According to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan organization that tracks federal campaign finance data from FEC filings by aggregating contributions from pro-Israel PACs, Massie is the only current Republican member of Congress to have received $0 in such funding across his career.
Massie has long positioned himself as a skeptic of foreign entanglements and voted against multiple aid packages for Israel, opposed symbolic resolutions supporting the country, and criticized aspects of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies and U.S. involvement in Middle East conflicts, including with Iran. He argued his positions reflected “America First” priorities and opposition to endless foreign aid.
Trump personally recruited Gallrein, endorsed him early, and relentlessly attacked Massie as disloyal, calling him among the worst Republicans in Congress.
Massie raised and spent more than $5.5 million on his own campaign, but it was no match for the funds spent against him. He publicly described the race as an effort by “outside interests” — particularly pro-Israel billionaires and groups — to buy a congressional seat.
Gallrein campaigned as a staunch Trump ally, emphasizing his military service and promising unwavering support for the president’s agenda. Ads from pro-Israel groups and Trump allies hammered Massie over his foreign policy votes and occasional alignments with some Democrats.
The 4th District, which includes suburbs north of Cincinnati and parts of northern Kentucky, is one of the most Republican in the country. Gallrein is now heavily favored to win the seat in November.
Massie had survived previous primary challenges, including smaller efforts by pro-Israel groups. This time, the combination of Trump’s direct intervention and record outside spending proved decisive.