Thomas Massie’s Defeat Will Tighten Trump’s Grip on the GOP

The MAGA base proves again in Kentucky that Trump’s blessing is everything. But beyond that base, it’s the kiss of death.

Donald Trump has convinced Republican voters to exile seven conservative politicians from the Republican Party in the last two weeks. Not moderates. Not RINO’s (“Republican in name only”). These are officials who oppose abortion rights, universal health care, and virtually anything else that could be described as liberal or even moderate. But they showed a shred of independence from their party’s leader—and it cost them their careers. These results are the latest illustration of the duality of American politics today: Trump is revered by Republican base voters but disliked by virtually everyone else.

On Tuesday night, Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky lost his reelection bid in a GOP primary to Ed Gallrein, a political newcomer whose entire campaign strategy was to emphasize that he was endorsed by Trump. Massie had become one of the president’s least favorite House Republicans by voting against Trump’s economic policy bill, joining Democrats in pushing for the release of Department of Justice files related to Jeffrey Epstein, and supporting a resolution to stop the war in Iran. He is also the rare Republican who was critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the United States’ support of them, thereby drawing strong opposition from pro-Israel groups. By the end of the race, more than $33 million had been spent, largely against Massie, making this one of the most expensive House........

© New Republic