A record-shattering $37M was spent on Kentucky’s Massie-Gallrein race. Here’s who funded it
The Republican primary for northern Kentucky’s U.S. House district this May between incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie and Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein was by far the most expensive in congressional history — with $37 million spent by the campaigns and aligned super PACs.
New campaign finance filings with the Federal Election Commission this week reveal a clearer picture of how much the PACs spent — more than $25 million — and the identity of the wealthy business interests who filled their coffers to influence the race.
Massie lost the GOP primary by 10 percentage points, as he faced the wrath of President Donald Trump, who was displeased with Massie defying him on several issues, including Trump’s military strikes on Iran and his successful resolution to force the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Trump campaign advisers created a PAC that spent more than $7 million on attack ads against Massie, with wealthy allies and pro-Israel donors funding it and other PACs seeking his defea…