Amna Nawaz
@PBSNewsHour·5.3M subscribers·62.2K videos
Rep. Thomas Massie concedes historic GOP primary contest
Posted
May 20, 2026
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May 20, 2026
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2:48Now PlayingRep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., told supporters after losing his primary reelection bid Tuesday to Trump-endorsed candidate Ed Gallrein that there is a "yearning in this country for someone who will vote for principles over party."
Massie, who has represented northeastern Kentucky in the U.S. House since 2012, is known for criticizing President Donald Trump's war in Iran and pushing to release the Jeffrey Epstein investigation files. He encouraged the enthusiastic crowd at his election headquarters to "stay on your course, get our stuff done" and criticized Republicans' unwavering loyalty to the president.
"If the legislative branch always votes with the president, we do have a king. If the legislative branch always votes whichever way the wind is blowing, then we have mob rule," he said. "But if the legislative branch, and the representatives and the senators that serve with it, always follow the Constitution, we have a republic."
The race between Massie and Gallrein was the most expensive U.S. House primary contest in history.
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