Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie filed to run for his seat in 2028 on Sunday after losing his primary seat to a challenger backed by President Donald Trump.
Massie said he filed with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) in order to raise funds for his political operations as a potential candidate, though he has not made a final decision on which office to seek. He lost his primary race to former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein by a 9-point margin after Trump aggressively campaigned against Massie over his opposition to the Iran war, his multiple votes against the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act and his successful calls to release the files surrounding Jeffrey Epstein.
“I filed with FEC for the 2028 House race. This allows me to raise funds to continue my political operations supporting my position as a current office holder and as a potential candidate for federal office. I haven’t made a final decision about which office to seek, if I run,” Massie said in a Monday afternoon X post.
A record of $32 million was spent on advertising in the primary race, making it the most expensive U.S. House primary in history. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and other pro-Israel lobbyists poured $9 million in mostly independent expenditures to oust Massie and openly celebrated Gallrein’s victory.
Gallrein received over $63,000 in direct PAC donations from groups such as the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) and AIPAC’s super PAC, the United Democracy Project (UDP), and over $11.8 million from independent expenditures. Anti-Massie groups spent over $15 million in independent expenditures, while the Kentucky 4th PAC, Make Liberty Win, Defeating Communism PAC and other groups spent over $10 million in independent expenditures supporting of Massie.
MAGA Kentucky, a pro-Trump super PAC, spent over $7 million in independent expenditures attempting to oust Massie, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Massie joked during his concession speech that he could not reach Gallrein in Tel Aviv to congratulate him.
Massie repeatedly criticized Israel, wars and foreign aid during his time in Congress. He argued that Trump’s June 2025 strikes on Iran were unconstitutional, and later stated on May 4 that Israel “forced our hand and dragged us” into the Iran war that began on Feb. 28.
Trump called Massie a “complete and total disaster” during a rally in Hebron, Kentucky, in March. He also accused Massie of being a “moron” during the National Prayer Breakfast in February while the congressman fought for the release of the Epstein files.
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