Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
With about 72 percent of the votes counted, Ed Gallrein led with 54.4 percent to Massie’s 45.6 percent.
US President Donald Trump has strengthened his hold on the Republican Party as Kentucky voters ousted one of the most conservative lawmakers seeking to publicly challenge his administration.
Congressman Thomas MassieThe defeat, which was predicted by the US media, including NBC and CNN, about two hours after the polls closed on Tuesday, shows another success of Trump’s campaign to punish dissidents among the Republicans.
Recommended Articles
list of 4 itemsend of series
With nearly 72 percent of the votes counted, former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein led with 54.4 percent of the vote to Massie’s 45.6 percent.
The Associated Press has called the race against Gallrein, whose campaign has been backed by Trump’s endorsement and millions of dollars from pro-Trump and pro-Israel political groups.
The competitioncommonly described as very expensive The first House of Representatives in US history, it saw more than $32m spent on advertising and provided the latest evidence of Trump’s influence on Republicans. It followed the early defeat on Saturday of another Trump opponent, the Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisianaand the losses of Republican state lawmakers in Indiana earlier this month.
“Massie has the Trumpet. Donald Trump is the sun and moon and star of the Republican Party in Kentucky,” Kentucky-based Republican Strategist TJ Litafik said.
A test of Trump’s influence
The vote in Kentucky was watched with interest as a test of whether Trump can still hold Republican voters despite concerns about his war on Iran, rising inflation and declining personal approval ratings, and whether there was room in the party for lawmakers who want to leave with him.
Massie has angered Trump by opposing US troops in Iran and Venezuela, criticizing aid to Israel, rejecting some of the president’s policies, and supporting efforts to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The president has spent months attacking Mr Massie, who was the leader for seven years, calling him a “fool”, a “nut job” and a “big bag”.
“He’s very bad to deal with. I don’t think he’s a Republican… He’s not comfortable,” Trump told reporters after Tuesday’s inauguration.
“Sometimes they say he’s dumb. He votes against us all the time,” Trump said, using a nickname he often uses against Democrats.
‘I’m not against President Trump’
In the northern Kentucky city of Covington, Rob Barkley, a former Trump aide who supported Massie, said the president’s attacks have pushed him to advance in Congress.
“He’s on the Republican side, so he’s very conservative,” Barkley told US reporters after the vote.
“But they don’t lean to the right like Trump’s politics,” he said.
Massie, who voted with Trump in nearly 90 percent of the president’s second term, framed the race as a more liberal test of the Republican Party.
“I’m not running against President Trump. Most of the people who vote for me support President Trump like I do,” Massie said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made another rare appearance in Massie’s district on Monday to campaign for Gallrein.
Federal law prohibits government employees from engaging in political activities while on the job, but Hegseth’s office said he attended privately and no taxpayer money was used.
Trump later revealed that Hegseth’s campaign appearance came just hours before the US was expected to launch a new fighting in Iranalthough the operation was later called off.
Several US states, including Georgia and Pennsylvania, held primaries on the Tuesday before November midterm electionsbut the Kentucky race was seen as one of the most watched races of the night.
Massie, who was first elected in 2012, has become one of Trump’s most vocal Republican opponents.
