Days after losing the Republican primary to challenger Ed Gallrein, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) announced he has filed paperwork to campaign for his U.S. House seat in 2028. Donald Trump endorsed Gallrein after Massie clashed with the president on several issues, including the Jeffrey Epstein Files and the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
“I filed with FEC for the 2028 House race,” Massie wrote on X on Monday. “This allows me to raise funds to continue my political operations supporting my position as a current office holder and as a potential candidate for federal office. I haven’t made a final decision about which office to seek, if I run.”
The announcement came just hours after Trump described Massie, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who was also defeated by a Trump-supported GOP primary challenger, and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) as “losers” in a long-winded Truth Social post on Monday.
“I laugh at all of the Dumocrats, RINOS, and Fools who know nothing about the potential deal I am making with Iran, things that haven’t even been negotiated yet, weak and ineffective people like failed Senator Thom Tillis (Soon out of office!), Bill Cassidy, who just suffered a massive Primary loss, really bad Congressman Thomas Massie, a major sleazebag who lost in a landslide to a great American Patriot (Endorsed by “TRUMP”) after showing tremendous disloyalty to his Party (and Country!), and almost all Dumocrats, people that have totally lost their way, constantly supporting bad policy and even worse candidates, but are constantly critical of each and every fantastic win I have,” Trump wrote.
“These people should go home and rest, they do nothing but create division and loss. In other words, they are losers!” Trump added.
Massie appeared to take his loss in stride, writing on X on Wednesday, “I lost the election but we started a revolution,” alongside a clip of his supporters chanting his name. In an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Massie appeared to hint at his forthcoming political plans, telling moderator Kristen Welker that he won’t rule out anything and will “take some time and decide what’s next.”
“Look, I’ve spent the last five days on my farm with my grandkids, and my cattle, and my peach trees, and it’s a pretty nice life. I don’t know if I want to screw that up again,” he said. “I’ve been in Congress 14 years, fighting. Every hour that passes, I get decompressed a little bit more. It’s like coming up from the bottom of the ocean.”
“...But I think I will stay engaged in some way or shape,” Massie added. “Maybe it’s from the outside. I’ve been exposing what’s going on in Washington, D.C., for years, and I’ll keep doing it.”
