Trump-Backed Candidate Unseats Massie in $33 Million Primary House Race |
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Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, a far right Republican who has opposed a number of Trump administration initiatives, lost his primary election bid on Tuesday night to a candidate personally endorsed and promoted by President Donald Trump.
Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and farmer, won the Kentucky race with around 54.9 percent of the vote. Massie, meanwhile, garnered 45.1 percent of support from Republican voters in his district.
The race drew national attention because of Trump’s intense targeting of Massie. The president’s ire was prompted by the congressman’s votes in favor of war powers restrictions on his war in Iran, as well as Massie’s insistence on the full release of files relating to alleged child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, with whom Trump once had a close friendship.
The primary race is likely one of the most expensive in U.S. history. Between the two candidates (and super PACs involved in the race), around $33 million was spent on political advertising, the highest amount ever recorded for a primary race by AdImpact, a firm that has measured political spending in such races since 2018.
In addition to Trump-aligned groups spending huge amounts in the race, several pro-Israel organizations, including some with ties to AIPAC, spent millions of dollars in favor of Gallrein and opposed to Massie, as the latter candidate has been a frequent critic of Israel. In total, Trump- and Israel-aligned groups spent around $19 million in ads for Gallrein and against Massie.
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