Trump exerts iron grip on Republican Party with Massie defeated
Victory over a Republican rebel in Kentucky shows the president's strength but his power comes with risks for the midterms.
Coverage by Political Leaning
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Notable Quotes
"Trump once again proved his power in the Republican party."
— Trey Grayson , Politician
"John Cornyn is an outstanding senator and deserved, in my judgement, the president's support."
— Susan Collins , Politician
"He was a bad guy. He deserves to lose."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"We’ve been honorable the whole time and we’re going to stay that way."
— Thomas Massie , Politician
"We weren’t really running against Ed Gallrein. We weren’t really running against Donald Trump. We were running for what we believe in."
— Thomas Massie , Politician
"I want to thank President Trump for his support, his endorsement, and his counsel as I navigated this campaign."
— Ed Gallrein , Politician
Key People
Republican senator from Louisiana.
Brad Raffensperger is the Secretary of State of Georgia, involved in the administration of elections.
Burt Jones is the Lieutenant Governor of Georgia and a candidate for the GOP nomination for governor.
Democratic candidate who won a closely watched primary in Pennsylvania.
Former president of the United States known for his aggressive economic policies.
Former senator who secured the Democratic nomination in Alabama.
Ed Gallrein is a Republican challenger to Thomas Massie, endorsed by Donald Trump.
James Talarico is a Texas State Representative running for the U.S. Senate.
Republican senator from Texas.
Julia Letlow is a Congresswoman and the first Republican woman elected to represent Louisiana in Congress.
Keisha Lance Bottoms is the Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia.
Ken Paxton is the Republican state attorney general running for the US Senate.
Billionaire who advanced to a runoff in Georgia's gubernatorial race.
Longtime Republican Senator from Maine who has served nearly 30 years.
Thomas Massie is a Republican congressman from Kentucky.
U.S. Senator from Alabama who shared his condolences on social media regarding the death of James 'Weston' Higginbotham.
A two-time Republican secretary of state in Kentucky.
Locations
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All Coverage
Victory over a Republican rebel in Kentucky shows the president's strength but his power comes with risks for the midterms.
Rep. Thomas Massie lost his primary election to Ed Gallrein, a candidate backed by former President Donald Trump, marking a significant victory for Trump's ongoing efforts to unseat Republicans he considers disloyal to his movement.
Donald Trump displayed his supremacy over the Republican party when voters in northern Kentucky rejected the maverick congressman Thomas Massie in favor of the US president’s hand-picked challenger, Ed Gallrein.
In the May 19, 2026, primary elections across multiple states, key races reflected the growing influence of former President Donald Trump within the Republican Party. In Kentucky, Trump-backed Ed Gallrein unseated Rep. Thomas Massie in a primary challenge, affirming Trump's sway over GOP voters, especially against those who opposed him.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., lost his primary Tuesday, the latest symbol of President Donald Trump’s influence over his party as Trump campaigned aggressively against Massie, who has warred with Trump for years.
Rep. Thomas Massie knew from the start of the 119th Congress that his independent streak could cost him his seat. But the Kentucky Republican persisted. He voted against the tax cuts and spending increases in President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill.” He teamed up with a prominent Democrat to push for release of the Epstein files. He opposed the war in Iran.
Donald Trump’s hand-picked candidate for a congressional seat in Northern Kentucky, Ed Gallrein, defeated the president’s nemesis and longtime GOP House member Thomas Massie in one of the most expensive primaries on record.
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