Massie Isn't Going Quietly

Ed Gallrein beat Thomas Massie 54.4% to 45.6% — 45,623 votes to 38,245 — according to the Associated Press. That's settled.

What isn't settled: whether Massie is actually done.

At his concession speech in Hebron, Kentucky, supporters chanted "2028" and "president." Massie's response, per the New York Post: "What happens in 2028? Oh, you want me to run Congress again? I don't know what you're talking about... Alright, you've made a compelling argument. We'll talk about it later."

That's a placeholder, not a goodbye.

Massie also landed a pointed shot on the way out: "Why did the race get so expensive? Because they decided to buy the seat, and it got real expensive for them." According to Reason, more than $32 million was spent on this race — making it the most expensive congressional primary in U.S. history. Most of that money came from pro-Trump and pro-Israel outside groups.

Gallrein, for his part, kept it clean in victory: "Now my focus is on advancing the president's and the party's agenda to put America first," according to the Daily Signal.

What the Massie Coverage Gets Wrong

Left-leaning outlets are framing this as Trump crushing a principled conservative. Right-leaning outlets are framing it as party discipline finally working. Both are missing something.

Massie voted against the Big Beautiful Bill, opposed Trump's tariff authority, and introduced resolutions challenging military action in Venezuela and Iran. Reason's coverage correctly notes he scored near-perfect ratings from Heritage Action and Conservative Review — the old benchmarks of Republican orthodoxy. Those benchmarks no longer exist.

The real story: $32 million to remove ONE congressman who votes his conscience. That's a warning shot to every Republican who might consider fiscal independence. Spend that kind of money, and you'd better hope Gallrein delivers. If he doesn't, Massie's 2028 chant looks a lot more interesting.

Georgia: The Real Battle Starts June 16

The Georgia GOP governor's race goes to a runoff on June 16 between Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson. NBC News called a runoff with just 29% of votes in, per Breitbart, with Jones at 36.7% and Jackson at 34.5%.

Jackson spent $80 million of his own money — mostly on ads — and nearly matched the Trump-backed incumbent lieutenant governor on his first try. A billionaire with MAGA-style messaging who doesn't owe Trump anything is threatening the president's preferred candidate in a state Trump already has complicated history with.

Brad Raffensperger, who famously refused Trump's request to "find" votes after 2020, got about 15% and is out. Politico called it accurately: the old guard of Georgia's GOP is gone. But the new guard isn't unified behind Trump — it's split between a Trump loyalist and a self-funded outsider who's running the same playbook Trump used in 2016.

Georgia Senate: Collins vs. Dooley in June

Rep. Mike Collins secured his runoff spot with 41.6% of the vote, according to the Associated Press as reported by Breitbart. Former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley edged out Rep. Buddy Carter for the second runoff slot — Dooley at 28.5%, Carter at 25.8%.

Trump has NOT endorsed anyone in the Georgia Senate race. He said in October 2025 he was "following that race carefully" but made no pick. That's unusual for a president who's been endorsing everywhere else. The RealClear Polling average shows Collins giving Ossoff the toughest general election matchup — a projected 2.8-point Ossoff lead, which is genuinely competitive.

The longer this runoff drags, the more money Republicans burn fighting each other instead of targeting Jon Ossoff. Democrats are watching this happily.

Democrats: What Their Choices Reveal

Kentucky Democrats chose Charles Booker over Amy McGrath to take on Trump-backed Rep. Andy Barr for the Senate seat vacated by Mitch McConnell's retirement, per Decision Desk HQ via The Hill. Booker is a progressive; McGrath is a centrist who already lost to McConnell in 2020. Kentucky Democrats chose left over center in a state Trump wins by 30 points.

In Georgia, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms won the Democratic gubernatorial primary outright — no runoff needed — per Decision Desk HQ via The Hill. She beat a crowded field including former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who ran as a Republican turned Democrat and pulled about 7%. Crossing the aisle cost Duncan everything.

In Pennsylvania's 3rd District, self-described democratic socialist state Rep. Chris Rabb won the Democratic primary with Squad endorsements from AOC, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib, per the New York Post. Rabb is essentially guaranteed to win in November in that solidly blue Philadelphia-area seat. The Squad just expanded its footprint.

Alabama: Tuberville vs. Doug Jones in November

Sen. Tommy Tuberville won the GOP gubernatorial nomination with 79% of the vote when the race was called. His Democratic opponent will be former Sen. Doug Jones, per Decision Desk HQ via The Hill. Jones won a 2017 special election in a fluke result and lost his reelection bid in 2020 by nearly 20 points. Alabama hasn't elected a Democratic governor since Don Siegelman in 1998. This race isn't competitive — but Jones running keeps Alabama Democrats from disappearing entirely.

Oregon Rematch: Kotek vs. Drazan Again

Gov. Tina Kotek will face Republican state Sen. Christine Drazan in an Oregon governor's rematch, according to Decision Desk HQ via The Hill. Kotek barely won in 2022. Oregon Republicans see a path. Whether they can close it in a blue-trending state is the question November will answer.

Looking Ahead

Trump's political operation is real, it's disciplined, and it just spent $32 million to prove a point in Kentucky. Georgia is the story that demands closer attention — a $80 million self-funded challenger nearly beat the president's pick, two GOP Senate candidates have to fight until June 16, and Ossoff is sitting back watching Republicans spend their own money. The midterm battlefield isn't set. It's barely warmed up.