Overview
- Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL and fifth-generation Kentucky farmer, formally entered the 4th District race with the president’s endorsement, casting himself as an America First alternative to Rep. Thomas Massie.
- A Trump-aligned super PAC launched by top advisers Chris LaCivita and Tony Fabrizio has already spent nearly $2 million on ads targeting Massie.
- Massie fired back by labeling Gallrein an establishment-backed rubber stamp and reported his best fundraising quarter at roughly $768,000, with about $2 million cash on hand.
- The feud stems from Massie’s breaks with the president on major policies, including opposition to the sweeping reconciliation bill, challenges to unilateral action on Iran, and a bipartisan push to force release of DOJ records on Jeffrey Epstein.
- Kentucky’s GOP primary is set for May 19, 2026, in a safely Republican district, and Massie has local allies such as Sen. Rand Paul as both campaigns brace for an expensive fight.