Republican Ed Gallrein, who President Trump endorsed to challenge Rep. Thomas Massie (R-K.Y.), launched his campaign to challenge the incumbent Republican in the state’s fourth congressional district on Tuesday.
“This district is Trump Country. The President doesn’t need obstacles in Congress – he needs backup. I’ll defeat Thomas Massie, stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump, and deliver the America First results Kentuckians voted for,” Gallrein said in a statement.
Gallrein’s campaign launch comes after Trump endorsed him in a TruthSocial post on Friday.
“I hope Ed gets into the Race against Massie, who is now polling at about 9% because the Great People of Kentucky are wise to him — He only votes against the Republican Party, making life very easy for the Radical Left,” the president wrote in a Friday post on Truth Social.
“Unlike ‘lightweight’ Massie, a totally ineffective LOSER who has failed us so badly, CAPTAIN ED GALLREIN IS A WINNER WHO WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN,” he added.
Trump and Massie have been on the outs following the Republican lawmaker’s break with the president on a number of policy issues, including Trump’s massive reconciliation package known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Additionally, Massie has teamed up with progressive Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to push for the release of files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Massie, in turn, has sought to make hay out of Trump’s criticism. The Republican has more than $2 million in cash on hand for his reelection bid after receiving $768,000 in contributions from July to September, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.
“After having been rejected by every elected official in the 4th District, Trump’s consultants clearly pushed the panic button with their choice of failed candidate and establishment hack Ed Gallrein,” Massie said. “Ed’s been begging them to pick him for over three months now.”