Kentucky congressman Thomas Massie has filed to run for the US House of Representatives in 2028, less than a week after losing a primary challenge to Ed Gallrein, who was backed by President Donald Trump. The race ended with a 55-45 defeat for Massie, a conservative Republican who has often clashed with Trump.
Massie announced the filing on social media on Monday, stating that it allows him to raise funds for his political operations while he considers his future. “I haven’t made a final decision about which office to seek, if I run,” he wrote. Despite the loss, Massie has seven months left in his current term and intends to remain active.
The primary was the most expensive House primary in history, with over 94% of spending coming from outside Kentucky, according to local reports. Massie attributed his defeat to outside money, saying on NBC’s Meet the Press, “They couldn’t buy my vote in 14 years, so they bought this seat.” The race saw heavy spending from billionaire donors and groups linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Massie, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, broke with Trump early in his second term, opposing the administration’s tariff policies and spending. He was one of only two House Republicans to vote against Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He also co-authored legislation that led to the release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Representing a conservative district in northern Kentucky, Massie sharply criticised the use of AI in political advertising during the campaign, including an ad that depicted him with two female Democratic leaders. Discussion has emerged about Massie potentially running for president in a post-Trump political environment, though he has not confirmed any plans.
