Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has lost Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District primary to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein, ending a closely watched contest that had become a test of President Donald Trump’s influence within the Republican Party.
The race attracted national attention as tensions deepened between Trump and Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican who had publicly opposed some of the president’s policies and pushed for the release of files linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Polling stations opened at 06:00 local time on Tuesday and closed 12 hours later in what reports described as one of the most expensive congressional primary races in US history.
The result is likely to be viewed as a significant political victory for Trump in a state he carried by more than 30 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.
In the final hours before voting, Trump sharply criticised Massie on social media. “Horrible Congressman Thomas Massie put out an old Endorsement, from many years ago, of him by me long before I found out that he was the Worst Congressman in the History of our Country,” Trump wrote on X.
He added: “I endorsed Ed Gallrein, a true American Patriot, which Massie knows full well, so the statement that he put out is fraudulent, just like HE is fraudulent. WITHDRAW YOUR FAKE STATEMENT, MASSIE, RIGHT NOW!”
Massie responded by posting an image of a previous endorsement from Trump.
The race also drew attention because of support for Massie from conservative commentator Candace Owens, who has recently criticised Trump over US involvement in the conflict involving Iran and Israel.
Replying to the president’s post on X, Owens wrote: “Look who climbed out of his Israeli echo chamber….”
The Kentucky primary highlighted growing divisions within parts of the American conservative movement over foreign policy and transparency issues.
Some right-wing commentators and activists have criticised the Trump administration’s support for Israeli military action against Iran, arguing that the conflict did not align with an “America First” agenda.
Frustration among some conservatives has also centred on the administration’s handling of documents related to Epstein.
The disagreements have contributed to friction between Trump and several prominent conservative figures, including commentator Tucker Carlson and Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Democrats Jesse Brewer and Melissa Strange were also on the ballot in the congressional race.