Overview
- Rep. Thomas Massie, who told Tucker Carlson on Wednesday that he leads by a single point and “may lose,” says turnout will decide his May 19 Republican primary against Ed Gallrein.
- President Donald Trump endorsed Gallrein, and GOP victories by Trump-backed candidates in Indiana and Ohio this week have boosted expectations that his support can sway primaries.
- Independent ad tracking shows more than $23 million spent on the race, with a wave of hard-hitting TV spots and even an AI-made attack video confusing some voters about Massie’s record.
- Massie alleges that at least 95% of the money fueling efforts to defeat him comes from pro-Israel groups and wealthy donors, naming AIPAC, the Republican Jewish Coalition, Christians United for Israel, and several billionaires, and he claims some funds were routed via the Democracy Engine platform; these are his assertions, not independently verified in the reporting.
- Massie says a weeklong online fundraising “moneybomb” topped $1 million as he tries to counter the blitz before a primary that will likely determine who holds Kentucky’s 4th District in November.