How Massey’s Kentucky primary could test Trump’s grip on the Republican Party: US midterm elections 2026 news
While Massey has long dominated the polls in Kentucky’s 4th District, this year’s polling shows a tighter race than expected.
The Quantas Insights survey, conducted from 6 to 7 April, showed Massey leading Galren by 46.8 per cent to 37.7 per cent.
In another survey conducted by Big Data Poll in early April, Massey was ahead with 52.4 per cent to Galerin’s 47.6 per cent.
According to Stephen Voss, a political science professor at the University of Kentucky, the relatively close primary could be a signal for Republican voting trends across the country.
Voss said, “Macy is an early opportunity to see what Republican voters will do when their pro-Trump inclinations collide with their conservative inclinations.” “That’s the biggest puzzle of this race.”
However, this episode is not the first time Trump has turned against Macy’s. In 2020, another election year, Trump famously petitioned to “kick Macy out of the Republican Party.”
But by 2022, Trump reversed his stance and endorsed Massie over a challenger who questioned the congressman’s commitment to the presidency.
Still, the past year has widened the rift between Trump and Massey, leading the president to take his most aggressive step yet to remove the congressman from office.
In 2025, the two Republicans clashed on many issues. For example, Massey opposed the president’s tax and spending measures out of fear of increasing the national debt.
That meant voting against Trump’s signature legislation last July, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The Kentucky Republican also condemned Trump’s campaign of foreign interference. Last June, NBC News reported that the president’s allies began preparing for a primary challenge after Massey criticised Trump’s attacks on Iran.
Massey also led the charge to force the Justice Department to release all files related to the investigation of late financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Shortly thereafter, Trump gave his approval to Galren, posting on his Truth Social site, “RUN, ED, RUN.”
By that time, Galren, a military veteran and fifth-generation farmer, had not yet entered the race. Four days later, on 21 October, he launched his bid.
Critics argue that Galren’s platform does not offer much differentiation from Macy’s. His campaign website lists his priorities as cutting taxes, reducing government spending, protecting gun rights, and opposing abortion – issues Macy also supports.
“I don’t think he’s offering any kind of alternative to electing Donald Trump,” Kahne said. “I think that’s it. It’s the only thing he has to offer.”
But Galren has profited greatly from Trump’s endorsement and has used it as a symbol of loyalty and authenticity.
“You deserve a genuine Republican conservative who stands firmly with our president and the Republican Party,” Galren declared at a Trump rally in March.
Trump, meanwhile, told the crowd that he was so frustrated that he wished “it was some warm body to beat Macy.”
