The Republican primary between Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein has set a record for the most spent on a House primary race since tracking began.Nearly $33 million has been spent on advertising and media in the Kentucky contest after Trump targeted Massie for breaking with him over the Epstein files. The race has also become a showcase for increasingly aggressive AI-generated campaign ads.One anti-Massie ad uses artificial intelligence to depict the congressman dining and holding hands with Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN), accusing him of “cheating on America” with “the Squad,” a reference to the progressive Democratic lawmakers.
#KYPol: "Thomas Massie, caught in a throuple in Washington. He's cheating with the Squad on the America First movement…it's a complete and total betrayal of President Trump."MAGA KY is up with a new #KY04 ad featuring AI-generated content. pic.twitter.com/MEUmsPdH5W— AdImpact Politics (@AdImpact_Pol) May 4, 2026
At the same time, a pro-Massie group released an AI-generated ad labeling Gallrein “Woke Eddie” and portraying the retired Navy SEAL abandoning President Donald Trump on a battlefield.
Massie has said pro-Israel AIPAC has been spending big on his race. AIPAC spent $3 million on ads last weekend, according to Massie. In total, AIPAC’s election branch has spent $4.1 million on the primary, according to FEC data reviewed by Reuters, and is one of multiple pro-Israel PACs funding Massie’s opponent.
