A handful of congressional Republicans defied President Donald Trump by throwing their support behind Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie.
Trump and his allies aggressively campaigned against Massie, who has been critical of the administration’s involvement in Iran and twice voted against the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) — the president’s signature legislative accomplishment. Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Victoria Spartz of Indiana and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky all campaigned for Massie during a Saturday rally in Florence, Kentucky.
Massie’s Race Matters! pic.twitter.com/gdiW7kIUkE
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) May 18, 2026
Boebert, a staunch supporter of Trump, expressed her support for both Massie and Trump in a Friday statement. Trump threatened to back a primary challenger against Boebert over her support for Massie, calling the congresswoman “weak minded” and a “carpetbagger” in a Truth Social statement Sunday. (RELATED: Trump-Backed Massie Challenger Faces Questions Over Military Awards, Divorce Records)
“Is anyone interested in running against Weak Minded Lauren Boebert in Colorado’s Fourth Congressional District?” Trump wrote Saturday. “You remember Lauren moved to the District when it became obvious that she couldn’t win in her original Congressional District (The Third!) — A Carpetbagger, indeed! Boebert is campaigning for the Worst “Republican” Congressman in the History of our Country, Thomas Massie, of the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, and anybody who can be that dumb deserves a good Primary fight!”
In response to Trump, Boebert said she “knew the risks” of agreeing to support Massie.
Paul gave remarks at the rally and urged voters in Kentucky’s fourth district to support the incumbent congressman.
Great rally today in support of @MassieforKY! Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday! pic.twitter.com/SBsqQdNuq2
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) May 16, 2026
Former Republican Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of California, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Justin Amash of Michigan also campaigned for Massie at the rally. Rohrabacher, a former Reagan administration official, served in Congress from 1989 to 2019 representing a Southern California district.
Massie also gained support from MAHA PAC — affiliated with the Make Healthy Again Movement — and pro-life groups Kentucky Right for Life and Northern Kentucky Right to Life.
.@RandPaul campaigning for Massie pic.twitter.com/N4L0lrXewF
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) May 16, 2026
Trump has endorsed and campaigned for Massie’s opponent, Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is scheduled to campaign for Gallrein in Kentucky Monday in an unusual move for a sitting Pentagon chief. Vice President JD Vance falsely asserted during an Oct. 29, 2025, Turning Point USA event that Massie has voted against the Republican Party “on every single issue.”
Massie, along with Davidson, was one of two GOP congressmen to vote against the OBBBA in May 2025. The Kentucky Republican voted against the landmark legislation again in July 2025. He argued that Trump’s strikes against Iran in June 2025 were unconstitutional. Massie also led the effort to force the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release the files surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, which Trump initially opposed.
The congressman criticized the war in Iran since it began on Feb. 28, stating in May that Israel “forced our hand and dragged us” into the conflict.
Trump previously lambasted Massie, calling him a “complete and total disaster” during a rally in Hebron, Kentucky, in March. He also called Massie a “moron” during the National Prayer Breakfast in February while Massie fought to release the files.
Spending on advertisements in the race surpassed $32 million, making it the most expensive House primary race in U.S. history, Politico reported. The American Israel Public Affairs Commitee (AIPAC) and other pro-Israel lobbying groups spent over $9 billion in the fight to unseat Massie.
Just days before the election, Massie’s ex-girlfriend Cynthia West accused him of offering her $5,000 to remain silent about Spartz, who West claimed fostered a toxic work environment. West worked as a congressional aide in Spartz’s office at the time.
Polls found the race to be neck-and-neck, though Gallrein held an advantage as of Monday. The latest poll from Quantus Insights found 53% of respondents planned to support Gallrein and 45% planned to back Massie.
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