Republican Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie handily won his district’s GOP primary election on Tuesday night, decisively overcoming two challengers and paving the way for his eighth term representing his deep-red district. But while Massie’s primary opponents did little to hamper his reelection bid, the Libertarian-leaning Republican’s criticism of the GOP establishment and foreign aid spending drew the ire of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which spent more than $400,000 against him in the contest.
When the primary race was called in Massie’s favor on Tuesday night, the Associated Press reported that the congressman had pulled in 75.9 percent of the district’s vote. Challengers Michael McGinnis and Eric Deters split the difference between them, with McGinnis slipping into second place by just 1 percent.
“Tonight’s victory is a referendum on thousands of independent votes I have cast in Washington DC on behalf of Kentucky’s 4th District,” said during a victory speech at a local restaurant. “I’ve consistently upheld the Constitution by voting for and sponsoring legislation to support the right to keep and bear arms, the right to free speech, freedom of religion and the right to privacy. I’ve also fought against endless foreign wars, foreign aid, and inflationary policies, regardless of who is in the White House.”
Learn the benefits of becoming a Valuetainment Member and subscribe today!
Massie is now running unopposed in the general election for his heavily Republican district, meaning his next term in Congress is all but guaranteed.
However, while Deter and McGinnis posed little threat to his Congressional career, Massie’s reelection was also opposed by the independent campaign-spending arm of AIPAC, a massive nonprofit lobbying group that advocates for pro-Israel policies in the federal government.
Massie has been an outspoken critic of all recent foreign aid plans passed through Congress, taking an especially firm stance against the multi-billion-dollar packages for Israel and Ukraine, arguing that “Israel has a lower debt-to-GDP ratio than the United States.” He was also one of the few Republicans to vote against the Antisemitism Awareness Act, a piece of sweeping hate speech legislation meant to punish anti-Israel protesters on college campuses.
In response, the United Democracy Project, an AIPAC subsidiary, spent between $300,000 and $400,000 on statewide ads slamming Massie as an antisemite and a Hamas sympathizer, accusing him of siding with radical Democrats like Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar.
“Israel, the Holy Land is under attack by Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah…and Congressman Tom Massie,” one ad aired on a local Fox News affiliate declared.
https://t.co/hEJYFaBcPp pic.twitter.com/yoIdIg0pEX
— United Democracy Project (@UnitedDemocProj) May 9, 2024
When the attack ads began last month, Massie ran a social media poll asking the public whether AIPAC should be required to register under the Foreign Agent Registration Act—a suggestion that received 96 percent support.
Following Massie’s victory, AIPAC attempted to downplay its involvement, stating that it was “not playing in” the primary, but rather trying to damage him statewide—likely in anticipation of a Senate run in 2026.
🇺🇸 FIRST. After spending $400k+ smearing me, and watching me get 75%+ in the race tonight, they claim they weren’t playing in the race. They deserve the ratio here: https://t.co/ULaQYOcXmU
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) May 22, 2024
“I’m laughing because it has the same effect as lighting it on fire and burning it,” Massie said of the spending campaign against him. “What it could do is up my name ID statewide, but two years from now nobody’s going to remember what the ad was about.”
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
Got a hot scoop or an idea for a story? Connect with the VT writers on Minnect!
Add comment