LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) 鈥� Rep. Thomas Massie鈥檚 role in the didn鈥檛 harm his standing with Republican voters in his Kentucky district, where he easily won his primary election on Tuesday in the conservative stronghold.
Massie far outdistanced challengers Eric Deters and Michael McGinnis to maintain his hold on the seat representing the 4th District, which stretches across northern Kentucky. With no Democratic opponent in the fall, Massie鈥檚 primary victory cleared his way to claim another term in November.
The libertarian-leaning congressman said his victory amounted to a 鈥渞eferendum on thousands of independent votes I have cast in Washington, D.C., on behalf of Kentucky鈥檚 4th District.鈥�
鈥淚 want to thank the voters for trusting me to represent them again, and I look forward to continuing our fight for personal liberty, economic freedom, fiscal responsibility and constitutionally limited government,鈥� Massie said in a statement.
Elsewhere, the dean of Kentucky鈥檚 congressional delegation, Republican Rep. Hal Rogers, easily defeated three challengers in the 5th District covering eastern and parts of southern Kentucky. No Democrat is running for the seat. Rogers is a senior member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which positions him to steer federal money back to his Appalachian district.
Rep. Morgan McGarvey, the state鈥檚 only Democratic congressman, coasted to victory over two opponents in the Louisville-area 3rd District. In November, he'll be challenged by Republican Mike Craven, who won his primary in the Democratic-leaning district.
Republican Rep. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, will be opposed by Democrat Erin Marshall after both were unopposed in the 1st District primary. The Bluegrass State鈥檚 other congressmen 鈥� Republicans Brett Guthrie and Andy Barr 鈥� were unopposed in the primary.
Massie鈥檚 congressional race drew attention for his reputation of defying his party鈥檚 leaders 鈥� from then-President Donald Trump to the House speaker 鈥� without being punished by his constituents.
Massie aligned with fellow Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in the recent attempt to remove Johnson from his post as speaker. Massie co-sponsored Greene鈥檚 ouster resolution, which was overwhelmingly rejected by their colleagues.
Before the primary, about any blowback from voters for trying to remove the speaker 鈥� nicknamed 鈥淢AGA Mike Johnson鈥� by Trump. The former president remains enormously popular in the district.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of inside baseball and ultimately, because he鈥檚 still the speaker, I think a lot of people don鈥檛 care,鈥� Massie said last week.
Four years ago, when the congressman singlehandedly caused a delay in passing a massive COVID-19 relief package. Trump called the Kentuckian a 鈥渢hird rate Grandstander.鈥�
An unapologetic Massie said he tried to hold up what he considered to be an unconstitutional vote for a wasteful bill. Massie deflected Trump鈥檚 jabs by joking he was at least 鈥渟econd rate鈥� as a grandstander.
Despite the presidential smackdown, Massie cruised to reelection that year. Two years later, on his way to another reelection victory.
鈥淭hey still appreciate somebody who will come up here and vote the way he believes is best, even if it鈥檚 at odds with Trump sometimes,鈥� Massie said of his constituents. 鈥淪o that鈥檚 sort of my brand at this point.鈥�
In another twist, Massie supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis鈥� failed bid for the White House, again risking Trump鈥檚 anger. The ex-president didn鈥檛 give an endorsement in Massie鈥檚 primary race this year.
Massie's challengers included Deters, a former gubernatorial candidate who played up his steadfast support for Trump and portrayed Massie as a 鈥済oofball鈥� lacking accomplishments in Congress.
Since joining Congress in late 2012, Massie has been known as an avid deficit hawk and staunch gun-rights supporter. In a recent post on the social platform X, Massie wrote: 鈥淎merica is on a path that won鈥檛 end well. We are borrowing money at an unsustainable rate, accumulating enemies through endless war, and eroding rights like free speech & privacy.鈥�
Kentucky鈥檚 most contentious campaign in the fall is likely to be over a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow taxpayer money to flow to private or charter schools. If it is ratified by voters, state lawmakers could then decide whether to support private or charter school education with public funds. will align with the Kentucky Education Association, a group representing tens of thousands of public school educators, in opposing the measure.
Bruce Schreiner, The Associated Press
