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Trump-backed challenger defeats Republican rebel Massie in primary

CNBC

Another Trump victory: Republican Rep. Thomas Massie loses Kentucky primary

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Massie loses primary challenge in victory for Trump

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Rep. Thomas Massie Loses Primary to Trump-Backed Challenger

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Trump-backed Navy SEAL vet delivers major blow to Massie in fiery GOP primary

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Trumps push fends off foe Thomas Massies Kentucky reelection bid in latest GOP victory for president

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Ed Gallrein Defeats Thomas Massie in Kentucky District 4 US House Race

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Thomas Massie Loses His Primary Race

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Which party will hold a plurality in the US Senate after the 2026 midterm elections?

Donald Trump

Richard Hasen

Marc Elias

Karoline Leavitt

David Becker

Michael S. Kang

Rick Hasen

Brennan Center for Justice

Lisa Kashinsky

Richard H. Pildes

Debra Cleaver

Protect Democracy

Michael Schwarz

James Gardner

"The president does not have any legal authority over the administration of mail voting."

"The president does not have direct executive power over elections to ban mail voting."

"The President plays literally no role in elections, and that's by design of the founders."

“The President has no power constitutionally to dictate to states the manner in which they conduct national elections."

"[Trump] would need the cooperation of Congress [to ban mail-in ballots], which I think he'd be unlikely to get to have any kind of federal interference with how the midterm elections will be run."

"While the attorney general does not have the authority to prevent states from following their own laws for counting ballots, this command sets up a potential conflict between the federal government and the states over the counting of ballots in the days after Election Day."

"[Trump] might soon announce a long-promised executive order on the subject."

“The White House is working on an executive order to strengthen our elections in this country, and to ensure that there cannot be blatant fraud, as we’ve seen in California, with their universal mail-in voting system."

"I’m going to do an executive order ending vote by mail.'”

Will Trump Ban US States From Using Mail-In Ballots by the 2026 Midterm Elections?

Harry Enten

Chuck Schumer

Reuters

James M. Lindsay

Polymarket

The New York Times

Mike Marinella

Nate Cohn

Kirsten Gillibrand

The Times

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RacetotheWH

Matthew Yglesias

Matt K. Lewis

"If I had to bet today — and I tend to define bet as “regret later” — I’d put my chips on the Democrats."

"Donald Trump knows, his party knows, that they’re at risk of losing this election in 2026"

"A feasible path for the [Democratic] party to win the Senate is coming into focus."

"There is a 47.4% chance the Republican Party will control the US Senate in 2026."

"There is a 48% the Republican Party will win the US Senate in 2026."

"There is a 52% chance the Republican Party will control the Senate after the 2026 election."

"There is a 53.2% chance the Republicans will win a Senate Majority in 2026."

"Democrats face an uphill battle to capture the U.S. Senate in the November midterm elections."

"Republicans are favored to retain their majority in the Senate. "

"Democrats’ chance of winning a Senate majority in 2026 is nearly zero unless they do something dramatically different."

Will Republicans Maintain Control of the Senate After the November 2026 Midterm Elections?

U.S. President Donald Trump-backed Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL and farmer, defeated incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Republican primary on Tuesday, winning by roughly 10 percentage points.

U.S. President Donald Trump-backed Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL and farmer, defeated incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Republican primary on Tuesday, winning by roughly 10 percentage points.

Massie, who has served in Congress since 2012, voted against Trump's tax and spending bill and led efforts with Rep. Ro Khanna to compel the release of government files related to Jeffrey Epstein, over initial White House opposition.

Massie, who has served in Congress since 2012, voted against Trump's tax and spending bill and led efforts with Rep. Ro Khanna to compel the release of government files related to Jeffrey Epstein, over initial White House opposition.

In his concession speech, Massie said voters had signaled they wanted someone who would "go along to get along," while adding there is "a yearning in this country for somebody who will vote for principles over party."

In his concession speech, Massie said voters had signaled they wanted someone who would "go along to get along," while adding there is "a yearning in this country for somebody who will vote for principles over party."

The race was the most expensive House primary in U.S. history, as more than $32 million was spent on advertising, according to AdImpact. Pro-Israel and Trump-aligned groups reportedly contributed heavily to the ad spending.

The race was the most expensive House primary in U.S. history, as more than $32 million was spent on advertising, according to AdImpact. Pro-Israel and Trump-aligned groups reportedly contributed heavily to the ad spending.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Kentucky on Monday to campaign for Gallrein. The Defense Department said Hegseth appeared in his "personal capacity" and that the visit had been "thoroughly vetted and cleared by lawyers."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Kentucky on Monday to campaign for Gallrein. The Defense Department said Hegseth appeared in his "personal capacity" and that the visit had been "thoroughly vetted and cleared by lawyers."

Massie's defeat follows Trump's successful intervention against Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who voted to convict Trump in 2021 and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/cassidy-ousted-letlow-fleming-head-to-runoff">failed to advance in his state's GOP primary</a>. Rep. Andy Barr also won the Republican nomination in Kentucky to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell.

Massie's defeat follows Trump's successful intervention against Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who voted to convict Trump in 2021 and failed to advance in his state's GOP primary. Rep. Andy Barr also won the Republican nomination in Kentucky to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell.

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Trump's endorsement of Ed Gallrein over Thomas Massie proves the president's grip on the Republican Party is stronger than ever. Massie didn't lose because of Trump alone — he lost because he abandoned his constituents, chased media clout and drifted from the issues Kentucky voters actually care about. Gallrein, a farmer and war hero, is exactly the kind of representative the district deserves.

Trump's endorsement of Ed Gallrein over Thomas Massie proves the president's grip on the Republican Party is stronger than ever. Massie didn't lose because of Trump alone — he lost because he abandoned his constituents, chased media clout and drifted from the issues Kentucky voters actually care about. Gallrein, a farmer and war hero, is exactly the kind of representative the district deserves.

Truthsocial

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Sean Davis

Eric Daugherty

Massie passed the most consequential accountability legislation in modern history and was winning voters under 45 by 30 points — and the Republican machine still cut him. His defeat shows that delivering results means nothing if you challenge the wrong powerful interests. Anti-establishment politicians who fight the Epstein class get purged by the very coalition that claims to oppose the establishment.

Massie passed the most consequential accountability legislation in modern history and was winning voters under 45 by 30 points — and the Republican machine still cut him. His defeat shows that delivering results means nothing if you challenge the wrong powerful interests. Anti-establishment politicians who fight the Epstein class get purged by the very coalition that claims to oppose the establishment.

Mike Nellis

Ro Khanna

Mario Nawfal

There's a 55.6% chance that the Republican Party will hold the most seats in the U.S. Senate after the 2026 midterm elections, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 55.6% chance that the Republican Party will hold the most seats in the U.S. Senate after the 2026 midterm elections, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Trump-Backed Gallrein Ousts Rep. Massie in Kentucky

Trump-Backed Gallrein Ousts Rep. Massie in Kentucky

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Trump-Backed Gallrein Ousts Rep. Massie in Kentucky

Trump-Backed Gallrein Ousts Rep. Massie in Kentucky

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