Rep. Thomas Massie in Washington Sept. 17, 2025 and Republican congressional candidate for Kentucky, Ed Gallrein in Covington, Ky., April 30, 2026.AP
According to ABC News projections, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie is set to be defeated by Ed Gallrein, who had the endorsement of President Donald Trump, in the race for Kentucky's 4th Congressional District.
Massie, a conservative with libertarian leanings, has drawn Trump's disapproval due to his efforts to make public the Jeffrey Epstein files, his opposition to the president's comprehensive tax policy on the domestic front, and his outspoken dissent against the Iran war.
Rep. Thomas Massie in Washington Sept. 17, 2025 and Republican congressional candidate for Kentucky, Ed Gallrein in Covington, Ky., April 30, 2026.AP
Speaking to reporters at the Congressional Picnic held at the White House Tuesday evening, Trump stated, "Concerning Massie: He wasn’t good. He should lose."
Addressing his supporters Tuesday night, Massie commented, "Our real opponents weren’t Ed Gallrein or Donald Trump. We were fighting for our convictions."
Gallrein gave credit to the president for his triumph.
"Let me keep this brief. I want to express my gratitude to President Trump for his backing, his endorsement, and his guidance throughout this campaign, which has been quite the experience, and for his brave leadership of our country during this crucial moment; I want to emphasize that this is a critical period and turning point in history. Thank you, Mr. President," Gallrein said.
Trump endorsed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and a fifth-generation agriculturalist, even before Gallrein declared his candidacy for Congress, and the president acknowledged his readiness to support virtually anyone to unseat Massie.
"I just wanted — give me any live body to defeat Massie, and I got somebody who is alive, with a remarkable, brilliant mind and a true patriot," Trump said alongside Gallrein earlier in the year.
This contest stands as the most costly House primary ever, with $32.6 million expended on advertising and ad reservations, according to AdImpact.
Rep. Andy Barr in Fancy Farm, Ky., Aug. 2, 2025 and Kentucky U.S. Senate candidate Daniel Cameron in Louisville, May 12, 2026.AP/Getty Images
Regarding the Senate race, ABC News projects that Rep. Andy Barr, endorsed by Trump, will secure the Republican primary as voters decided who would take the place of Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former Senate majority leader and the senator with the longest tenure in the state, retiring after more than 40 years of service in Congress.
Barr was competing against Daniel Cameron, the former attorney general and previous gubernatorial candidate.
Both contenders have previous connections to McConnell, although they have made apparent efforts to distance themselves from the senator, who embodies establishment Republicanism.
Earlier this month, Trump intervened in the race, requesting that businessman Nate Morris withdraw and accept a role in the administration, while endorsing Barr. Despite remaining on the ballot, Morris' votes will not be counted, as per the Kentucky Secretary of State.
The Kentucky State Capitol Building in Frankfort, Kentucky.STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images
State significance
Kentucky has favored Trump in the last three presidential elections, with Trump carrying the state by a 30-point margin in 2024.
This predominantly Republican state is headed by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who was initially elected in 2019 and secured reelection in 2023. However, Kentucky has not elected a Democratic senator since Wendell Ford, who served from 1974 to 1999.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com