Hebron, Kentucky
For the subsequent six months, Rep. Thomas Massie will maintain one thing that even President Donald Trump can’t take away: His seat in Congress.
The question is what comes subsequent.
As Massie turns into the newest Republican added to Trump’s rising record of revenge and retribution, his concession speech Tuesday evening right here in Kentucky gave the impression of something however. He delivered a forward-looking message to supporters, who appeared extra energized than crestfallen.
“What started out as an election turned into a movement,” Massie mentioned. “We stirred up something. There is a yearning in this country for someone who will vote for principles over party.”
The message of optimism – and defiance – units the stage for the subsequent chapter of Massie’s political life. His congressional time period ends in January. His loyal followers made clear they’ve larger issues in thoughts.
As somebody in the crowd shouted, “Massie for president!” his supporters erupted in booming applause. For his half, Massie smiled and laughed on stage and stored delivering a speech that was interrupted repeatedly with loud chants of “2028!”
It’s far too early, in fact, for Massie to credibly promote the thought of a presidential marketing campaign. Such a notion stirs so many questions, maybe beginning with: In what occasion would he run after struggling such a convincing defeat Tuesday in his congressional major towards Ed Gallrein?
Trump heard loud and clear on Capitol Hill
Massie’s loss is the newest in a collection of setbacks for Republicans who have challenged Trump.
Just this month, 5 Indiana state senators had been unseated in primaries after refusing to redraw their state’s US House map, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy didn’t make a GOP runoff 5 years after voting to convict Trump throughout his second impeachment, and Texas Sen. John Cornyn misplaced a Trump endorsement to longtime rival, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, in a transfer that each one however seals his defeat in subsequent week’s major runoff.
GOP Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee mentioned Tuesday’s outcomes confirmed Trump is sending a transparent message: “He will beat you.”
Another lawmaker, talking on situation of anonymity to debate the Kentucky consequence freely, instructed Massie “found out the hard way” that Trump continues to be the occasion’s “kingmaker.”
“You can’t fight the President tooth and nail to try to raise your profile and get TV hits, and then slap on a red hat and cheer him on when it’s convenient for you,” the lawmaker mentioned.
Rep. Mike Lawler simply final week was confronted by GOP Sen. Rand Paul’s son at a Capitol Hill bar. According to Lawler, William Paul, who is 33, approached him and mentioned if Massie misplaced his major, it will be as a result of “of my people,” later confirming that Paul thought he was Jewish. Lawler is Irish-Italian Catholic.
“My people have spoken,” Lawler posted on X Tuesday evening. “Shalom @RepThomasMassie.”
Rand Paul, who endorsed Massie and marketing campaign alongside him, declined to remark when approached by a reporter at the White House’s congressional picnic after the race was referred to as in Kentucky.
Even in defeat, Massie constructed a brand new roster of donors and energized a military of younger supporters. As he ticked by a number of achievements in Congress, the launch of the Jeffrey Epstein investigative information drew resounding applause as he cited identify after identify who has fallen due to the work his legislation has performed.
Yet a loss is a loss. And Massie returns to Washington as one in every of the newest political victims of Trump, who has an extended follow of returning repeatedly to his favourite punching luggage.
After the Congressional time period ends in early January, Massie faces the first second in 14 years with out a sure path. At 55, he’s a comparatively younger determine with a following.
“We have to figure out what was the purpose of having the biggest fight ever – the biggest fight ever!” Massie mentioned of his race that turned the costliest House major on report, with greater than $30 million spent on promoting alone. “Why did it converge on one of 435 congressional seats? What was God’s purpose? What was he showing us tonight?”
One factor Massie received’t do is mount an unbiased candidacy for his congressional seat as some incumbents do after they lose a major.
“Kentucky has sore loser laws, so you couldn’t run as an independent here in Kentucky,” Massie advised NCS on the eve of the election. “I think that’s probably a good thing. If you fight the fight and you win the primary, then you shouldn’t have to fight the same person again.”
Looking to the future, he added: “I don’t know what I will do.”