{"id":3011,"date":"2026-05-26T14:39:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T14:39:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/26\/thomas-massie-files-to-run-in-2028-after-losing-to-trump-pick-ed-gallrein\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T14:39:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T14:39:58","slug":"thomas-massie-files-to-run-in-2028-after-losing-to-trump-pick-ed-gallrein","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=3011","title":{"rendered":"Thomas Massie files to run in 2028 after losing to Trump pick Ed Gallrein"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"f47d13f8-a1a9-4964-8ad7-5cbab33b9b3a\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"a man smiles at a crowd\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/7945869aeb763b15b9295ccdab499e7108bded6e\/0_0_4382_2922\/master\/4382.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"310.07074395253306\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Thomas Massie at an election night watch party in Hebron, Kentucky, on 19 May. <\/span> Photograph: Carolyn Kaster\/AP<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"f47d13f8-a1a9-4964-8ad7-5cbab33b9b3a\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Thomas Massie at an election night watch party in Hebron, Kentucky, on 19 May. <\/span> Photograph: Carolyn Kaster\/AP<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Thomas Massie files to run in 2028 after losing to Trump pick Ed Gallrein<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>Kentucky conservative says \u2018I haven\u2019t made a final decision about which office to seek, if I run\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Thomas Massie is planning his comeback.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The conservative Kentucky congressman filed to run again for the US House of Representatives in 2028, less than a week after losing to Donald Trump\u2019s hand-picked challenger Ed Gallrein 55-45 in a bruising primary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The US president celebrated last week as Massie \u2013 a Republican thorn in his side \u2013 became the latest to be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/19\/kentucky-republican-primary-trump-massie\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">ousted from office by his political operation<\/a>. \u201cHe deserves to lose,\u201d claimed Trump.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But Massie, who has seven months left in Congress, has made clear he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/24\/thomas-massie-trump-republican-voters-midterms\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">plans to remain engaged<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"174ce562-25b8-4616-b9af-e94852a3efb9\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-4 | 4\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-vshhea\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/23\/donald-trump-revenge-republicans-thomas-massie\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">Donald Trump\u2019s revenge tour against Republican dissenters is in full swing. Will it backfire?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cI filed with FEC for the 2028 House race,\u201d he wrote on social media on Monday. \u201cThis 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\u2019t made a final decision about which office to seek, if I run.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Discussion has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/could-thomas-massie-bounce-failure-2028-white-house-bid-11971021\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">emerged<\/a> about Massie\u2019s potential as a US presidential candidate in a post-Trump political environment, despite his loss last Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A stalwart of the House Freedom Caucus, Massie broke rank with Trump just a few months into the president\u2019s second term. Massie criticized the administration\u2019s tariff regime and spending, and was one of only two house Republicans who voted against Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/jul\/03\/trump-spending-bill-conservatives-law\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">One Big Beautiful Bill<\/a> Act. Massie was a co-author of legislation that forced the Department of Justice to disgorge the Epstein Files, linked to the convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Massie \u2013 who was defeated by challenger Ed Gallrein last week \u2013 represents a generally conservative district of northern Kentucky that covers the suburbs of Louisville and Cincinnati. Even by modern political standards, the contest was fiercely fought. Massie sharply <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whas11.com\/article\/news\/politics\/thomas-massie-throuple-ai-ad-kentucky-primary-election\/417-b3dfe9ce-32b2-433b-9b56-3cac7c27b803\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">criticized<\/a> the use of AI in political advertising in the race, in which one ad realistically depicted him accompanying two female Democratic leaders into a hotel room.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-ri3hap\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The race became the most expensive House primary battle in history. Reporters from WLKY in Louisville <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlky.com\/article\/outside-spending-massie-politics-kentucky\/71388889\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">noted<\/a> that more than 94% of the money spent both to unseat Massie and to defend him came from outside the state, with Massie\u2019s opposition fueled by billionaire donors and Pacs associated with the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThey couldn\u2019t buy my vote in 14 years, so they bought this seat,\u201d Massie said of his loss on NBC\u2019s Meet the Press on Sunday. \u201cThis was the most expensive race in congressional primary history and at the end of this race we were spending more per day, my side and the opposing side, we were spending more per day than most entire congressional races are spent for the entire cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/republicans\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Republicans<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/kentucky\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Kentucky<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-congress\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US Congress<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Donald Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Thomas%20Massie%20files%20to%20run%20in%202028%20after%20losing%20to%20Trump%20pick%20Ed%20Gallrein&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/26\/thomas-massie-run-2028?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F26%2Fthomas-massie-run-2028&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/26\/thomas-massie-run-2028\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thomas Massie at an election night watch party in Hebron, Kentucky, on 19 May. Photograph: Carolyn Kaster\/AP View<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3013,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3011","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3011"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3011\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}