GOP Lawmakers Shrug Off Trump’s Anti-Incumbent Push After Massie Loses Kentucky Primary
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 24
GOP Lawmakers Shrug Off Trump’s Anti-Incumbent Push After Massie Loses Kentucky Primary
6 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 24
Republican lawmakers downplayed fallout from Thomas Massie’s Kentucky primary defeat, saying the party must quickly refocus on passing Trump-backed legislation and holding its narrow House majority.
Massie lost after months of escalating attacks from Trump, who targeted the Kentucky congressman over repeated breaks with his agenda on spending fights and other legislative disputes.
Byron Donalds, Beth Van Duyne and John Hoeven defended Trump’s right to endorse challengers, arguing primary fights are routine even when not every Republican agrees with his tactics.
Some Republicans still warned that ousting incumbents could complicate House vote-counting, especially if members freed from reelection pressure become less willing to support leadership in a chamber with little margin for defections.
The episode underscores Trump’s continued grip on GOP primaries as Republicans try to keep members and voters aligned ahead of the midterms.
When a primary costs a record $32 million, who are candidates truly accountable to?