Donald Trump scored a political win in eastern Kentucky on Tuesday, with his chosen candidate vanquishing Rep. Thomas Massie, a fiscal hawk with a libertarian streak who has publicly sparred with the president on spending bills, the war in Iran and the release of records related to convicted late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein was leading Massie 54 percent to 46 percent just before 8 p.m. Eastern time, when The Associated Press called the Republican primary for Kentucky’s 4th District.
The bitterly fought contest drew an influx of outside spending, much of it from pro-Israel groups targeting Massie. With nearly $33 million spent on ads and other campaign-related costs, the primary was among the costliest in recent years, according to The New York Times.
Kentucky Republicans also selected Trump-endorsed Rep. Andy Barr as the party’s nominee in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former Senate Republican leader who also tangled with Trump on occasion. Barr handily defeated former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, according to the AP. And Trump’s pick to fill the House seat Barr is vacating — physician and former state Sen. Ralph Alvarado — also won Tuesday night.
