Massie’s Primary Opponent Takes Narrow Lead in Contentious Kentucky Race

Congressman Thomas Massie is falling behind in his primary race for another term in Congress, according to a new poll released Wednesday. The survey shows Ed Gallrein, the Trump-endorsed Republican, leading Mr. Massie slightly outside of the margin of error. Mr. Gallrein was recruited by the president to challenge Mr. Massie last year after the Kentucky libertarian bucked Mr. Trump on his One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the Epstein files issue. Mr. Massie authored the legislation to force the Justice Department to release the files — a bill Mr. Trump fought tooth and nail before begrudgingly signing it. The poll released Wednesday by Quantus Insights is one of the few public surveys on the primary campaign. It shows Mr. Gallrein leading Mr. Massie 43.1 percent to 48.3 percent, narrowly outside the 3.3 percent margin of error. When poll respondents were pressed on the question of who they are leaning towards, Quantus Insights found Mr. Gallrein’s lead expanding, 52.8 percent to 45.1 percent. Mr. Gallrein’s campaign has relied almost exclusively on a promise to work with Mr. Trump at all costs. Mr. Massie, who votes with the president more than 90 percent of the time, appears to be suffering from his national profile as a GOP lawmaker willing to stand up to Mr. Trump on key issues despite largely falling in line. While Mr. Gallrein is being supported by millions of dollars in outside spending that came from Mr. Trump’s top donors, Mr. Massie has kept his grassroots fundraising operation humming. According to a webpage for his “moneybomb” fundraiser, he has raised nearly $2 million through small-dollar donations. The page includes a YouTube link to his recent interview with Tucker Carlson, who, like Mr. Massie, has been stridently opposed to American support for Israel and American attacks on Iran. The bulk of the outside funding for Mr. Gallrein is coming from three individuals, all of whom are Jewish supporters of Israel — Miriam Adelson, Paul Singer, and John Paulson. Just recently, an outside group supporting Mr. Massie ran an ad featuring Mr. Singer. The ad describes Mr. Singer — a billionaire hedge fund manager — a “major pro-gay, pro-trans activist who works with far-left, hardcore Democrats.” It then flashes a Star of David in rainbow colors behind Mr. Singer’s head, which has led to accusations of antisemitism. Mr. Massie says he has raised $5 million in total during this election cycle, which he says is likely more money than all other funds raised for his previous campaigns combined. He was first elected to the House in 2012. “I usually raise a couple hundred thousand,” Mr. Massie told Mr. Carlson. “It’s because this situation is dire.”

Massie’s Primary Opponent Takes Narrow Lead in Contentious Kentucky Race

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