Kentucky GOP Primary Ousts Rep. Thomas Massie in Record‑Cost Race

Incumbent Republican Representative Thomas Massie lost the Kentucky GOP primary on May 19, 2026 to former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein. Gallrein, who has no prior political experience, won after receiving more than $15.8 million in support from the pro‑Israel lobby AIPAC and affiliated networks, marking the most expensive primary in U.S. history.

Massie, a longtime opponent of U.S. military aid to Israel and the war in Iran, had introduced legislation to require foreign lobbying groups to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. His defeat was portrayed by AIPAC as a victory for candidates who back a strong U.S.–Israel alliance, while Massie called the outcome “a win for a foreign lobby over an elected American lawmaker.”