❓What happened last night: Massie loses to Trump-backed challenger
President Trump is having a great May, at least when it comes to asserting his political control over the Republican Party. His endorsed primary challengers won five of seven state Senate contests in Indiana on May 5. Then Sen. Bill Cassidy lost in Louisiana’s May 16 Republican primary. And last night, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie lost to Trump-endorsed primary challenger Ed Gallrein.
Next Tuesday, it looks like it may be Sen. John Cornyn’s turn in Texas after Trump endorsed his primary opponent, state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Let’s look at what happened to Massie and in other primaries on May 19.
The biggest race of the night was Rep. Thomas Massie’s matchup against former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, who had Trump’s endorsement. In the end, Gallrein won by about 10 points, 55%-45%. Massie looked to be in trouble when the suburban counties next door to Cincinnati — Boone, Kenton, and Campbell — remained in Gallrein’s hands. In the end, Massie only carried his home base of Lewis County an…