Massie survives primary challenge in Kentucky

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that AIPAC had not gotten directly involved in the primary.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has survived a primary challenge for his seat in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Massie fended off challenges from Republicans Michael McGinnis and Eric Deters.

In 2023, Deters ran and lost to state Attorney General Daniel Cameron (R) in the GOP primary for the Kentucky gubernatorial race. Cameron lost to Gov. Andy Beshear (D) last November.

Massie’s district sits in northern Kentucky, above Lexington.

The Republican congressman has been known to buck his party at times, including being one of four House Republicans to initially back Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) over former President Trump in the 2024 GOP presidential primary.

Massie was also one of two Republicans to back Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-Ga.) push to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), though Johnson survived the effort to remove him.

Massie’s win is notable given that a super PAC aligned with American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, aired ads targeting Massie and his record on Israel ahead of his primary.

The United Democracy Project and AIPAC have noted that UDP was not wading into the primary, but AIPAC said in a tweet that it was  “shining a spotlight on his atrocious anti-Israel record and making sure every Kentuckian knows that @RepThomasMassie votes with @AOC, @RashidaTlaib, and @IlhanMN against pro-Israel bills.”

UDP has suggested it’s looking to set the record straight on Massie’s record, noting the possibility of Massie seeking higher office in the future.

Updated: 9:28 a.m.

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