Paul backs Massie’s reelection campaign amid Trump’s opposition
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WASHINGTON — Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Crescent Springs, has been, at times, the last House Republican standing in his defiance of President Donald Trump.
Massie does have an ally in the upper chamber, Sen. Rand Paul, the only Kentucky Republican on Capitol Hill to publicly back Massie as he fights to keep his House seat.
What You Need To Know
Rep. Thomas Massie has been, at times, the last House Republican standing in his defiance of President Donald Trump
Sen. Rand Paul is the only Kentucky Republican on Capitol Hill who has publicly backed Massie as he fights to keep his House seat
Trump wants Massie out of office and has hand picked a primary challenger, Republican Ed Gallrein
“As you know, I’m supporting Thomas Massie in his upcoming race,” Paul said in a social media post Monday. “I think he’s the most faithful to the Constitution in the House, the most fiscally conservative.”
The Republican primary election for Kentucky’s fourth congressional district is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched in the nation.
That’s because Trump wants Massie out of office and has handpicked a primary challenger, Republican Ed Gallrein.
Trump even traveled to Massie’s district and campaigned against him.
“He is the worst person,” Trump said earlier this month at the event in Hebron. “How did he ever end up in Kentucky? His name is Thomas Massie … We call him ‘Rand Paul, Jr.’ He votes against everything.”
Massie and Paul both opposed the president’s signature tax and spending law because of concerns about the federal deficit, and they’ve both cosponsored resolutions meant to rein in military action by the Trump administration without congressional approval.
“I support the president and I support Thomas Massie,” Paul said in a town hall with Massie in Shelbyville on March 23. “I think you’ll find a lot of voters who are going to say they support both. I’m not always with the president either. I have some disagreements, but I support the vast majority of his policies.”
Meanwhile, Massie’s House colleague, Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington, who is running to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has backed Gallrein over Massie.
“He will be a team player who will focus on voting with Republicans to advance President Trump’s agenda as opposed to opposing President Trump’s agenda and voting with Democrats,” Barr said in February.
This week, Massie launched a fundraising blitz that brought in more than $350,000 in 24 hours, according to his campaign.
Paul pledged to match up to $5,000 in donations.
