Thomas Massie has officially filed to contest for his Kentucky House seat again in 2028, just days after suffering defeat in a Republican primary against a candidate endorsed by Donald Trump.
Massie was unseated last week by former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein in what became the most expensive primary race in Kentucky’s history.
The Kentucky lawmaker had repeatedly clashed with Trump in recent months over several major issues, including the U.S. and Israel’s conflict with Iran. Massie also played a leading role in congressional efforts pushing for the release of federal files connected to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The race attracted record-breaking campaign spending, with reports showing more than $32 million spent during the contest. Pro-Israel political groups reportedly invested millions of dollars into efforts aimed at removing Massie, who has been openly critical of Israel during his time in Congress.
In a statement released on Monday, Massie explained that filing for the 2028 race would enable him “to raise funds to continue my political operations supporting my position as a current office holder and as a potential candidate for federal office”.
He added that he had not yet made a final decision on which office he plans to seek.
Trump also recorded victories against other Republicans who opposed him politically, as Bill Cassidy and Brad Raffensperger both lost to candidates supported by the president during recent contests in Louisiana and Georgia.
The president also backed efforts that led to the removal of several Indiana lawmakers who resisted his nationwide redistricting plans earlier this month, reinforcing his continued influence within the Republican Party.
However, some Republican lawmakers and party strategists are reportedly concerned that Trump’s focus on settling political scores could affect the party’s legislative goals ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
There are also worries within the GOP about the future of John Cornyn’s Senate seat in Texas after Trump recently endorsed Ken Paxton in the state’s heated Republican primary race.
