Another Trump victory: Republican Rep. Thomas Massie loses Kentucky primary

Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, speaks during a campaign event ahead of a primary election at Veterans Memorial Park in Vanceburg, Kentucky, US, on Monday, May 18, 2026. Kentucky will hold a primary election on May 19. Jeffrey Dean | Bloomberg | Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL backed by President Donald Trump , defeated incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in a Republican primary Tuesday in Kentucky's 4th congressional district, the latest in a series of successful attempts by the president to pick off his political opponents. The Associated Press, NBC News and other outlets called the race Tuesday night less than two hours after the first polls closed. Massie was down nearly nine percentage points at the time the race was called. Massie has represented the district since 2012 and has become most known as a contrarian within the ranks of the House GOP . The Libertarian-leaning conservative led the charge with Rep. Ro Khanna , D-Calif., to release files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein , over the initial opposition of Trump. And he's at times voted against Republican priorities on the House floor. His independence drew the ire of Trump, who has repeatedly attacked Massie and made it his mission to oust him from office. "The worst Congressman in the long and storied history of the Republican Party, is Thomas Massie. He is an obstructionist and a fool. Vote him out of office tomorrow, Tuesday. …