Thomas Massie

The Republican primary in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District has escalated as Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and his challenger, former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, air competing artificial intelligence-generated ads, Axios reported.

According to AdImpact, more than $25 million has been spent on ads, the most ever in a House primary election.

Gallrein is running with the support of President Donald Trump, who has frequently clashed with Massie since his second term began. Trump's campaign arms have invested millions to unseat Massie.

A pro-Gallrein super PAC ad shows Massie dining and holding hands with far-left Democrat Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. The ad says the three are in a "throuple" and accuses Massie of cheating on the America First movement with "the Squad."

Massie's allies fired back with an AI-generated ad depicting Gallrein abandoning Trump on a battlefield and calling Gallrein "Woke Eddie."

The Republican Jewish Coalition and a super PAC aligned with AIPAC have also spent millions against Massie, according to AdImpact, while Massie has raised nearly $6 million for his campaign.

Another ad from Hold the Line PAC has attacked Paul Singer, a billionaire financier and Gallrein supporter who has a gay son and supports LGBTQ+ causes. The ad features a rainbow Star of David in the background, Axios reported.

"Eddie Gallrein is bought and paid for by the LGBTQ mafia. ... The gay mafia will own Woke Eddie," the ad states.

"Gallrein doesn't share our Kentucky values. He is with the weirdos. If Gallrein wins, the weirdos take over."

Gallrein's campaign brushed aside the ad.

"Tom Massie's time as a politician is coming to a close and it's a shame to see him end his career this way," Gallrein adviser Tim Murtaugh said in a statement to Axios.

Polling shows Massie with a small lead over Gallrein. Whoever wins the primary is considered a heavy favorite in the deep red district.