Ed Gallrein's voters once backed Thomas Massie. What changed?

COVINGTON, Ky. — Local supporters and even campaign staffers of Ed Gallrein didn’t have a lot to say about what Gallrein will do in Congress if he wins his November election — aside from supporting President Donald Trump.

But the fanatics of the new Republican nominee, who beat longtime Rep. Thomas Massie in the primary for Kentucky’s 4th District on Tuesday, didn’t seem to mind. Many of them were former Massie voters, but the Northern Kentucky congressman’s opposition to Trump led them to find new allegiances, they said Tuesday at Gallrein’s watch party at Wenzel Distillery in Covington.

The blow-up of Massie’s social media presence, largely because he pushed back on Trump on several high-profile issues, turned off many voters in the district. He’s one of the only Republican Congress members who ever openly defies Trump, which Gallrein’s fans said they consider immature.

Many said Gallrein’s willingness to support Trump and his background as a Navy SEAL make up for a lack of his own agenda.

“We’ve got a morning conference call to figure all that out,” Ted Sandmann, a Gallrein campaign staffer, said of his policy plans.

When the Lexington Herald-Leader asked what policies are in store, Sandmann said, “he’s got a lot of that on his website,” and again noted backing Trump.

“He is supportive of President Trump and the MAGA agenda.”

Sandmann and a few dozen supporters watched Gallrein give a short victory speech and pose for photo-ops.

When the Herald-Leader asked Gallrein what’s next, he said, “a bail of hay.”

Kim Dees, a former Carroll County Memorial Hospital CEO who lives on a farm, voted for Gallrein but was previously a Massie fan.

The 70-year-old said Massie’s active social media presence, with 1.7 million followers and regular jabs at Trump, made him an unattractive candidate.

“He’s more on the polyester side,” Dees said. “(Gallrein) is 100% cotton, he’s organic. This guy was in the military, and then goes home to farm and cut alfalfa.”

Dees agrees with Trump on most issues, but says she’s not a hardcore MAGA supporter. Gallrein is green to politics, which Dees said makes him more raw and down to Earth.

“I’m also rational,” she said. “For the last few years, we’ve been watching a movie. It’s all very scripted.”

Mike Rosedale, a retired Motorola businessman who used to vote for Massie, also was turned off by the incumbent as his social media presence grew.

“We voted for Massie the first time, but when (Trump) started calling him a traitor, a deserter, I was out,” Rosedale said of the congressman who was first elected in 2012 and has served seven terms.

The feud between Trump, Massie

Trump and Massie’s relationship first grew contentious when Massie temporarily blocked the passage of a COVID-19 relief bill during Trump’s first presidential term by demanding a roll call vote. Trump said he should be thrown out of the Republican Party and called him a “third rate Grandstander” on social media.

That relationship further soured in Trump’s second term. Massie has repeatedly blamed Trump’s disdain for him on the congressman’s efforts to release the “Epstein files,” a massive log of documents related to the late sex trafficker and financier Jeffrey Epstein. Massie also drew the ire of Trump when he voted against foreign aid to Israel, and pushed back on the U.S.’s military attacks on Iran and Venezuela.

Trump has also called Massie a “loser” and “total disaster” in recent disputes between the two.

Massie, who overwhelmingly votes with his party despite Trump’s pushes to paint him as someone who sides with Democrats, has only embraced a back and forth with the president. After Gallrein won, Massie said on X, “How do his boots taste?” in response to a post celebrating Trump and congratulating Gallrein.

“How could you call out this man who’s served his nation, and what have you done (Massie)? Corporate meetings?” Rosedale said.

While Massie is known for his farming background, Rosedale suggested his time in office gave him a commercial feel. Rosedale worked in corporate, which he described as a high-pressure field.

“But in the roles that we do, compared to some of the pressures (Gallrein) is gonna have, it’s gonna be a whole level 10,” Rosedale said. “So I think he’s prepared for this his entire life.”

Some Northern Kentucky politicians back Gallrein

Rosedale and others — including state Rep. Kimberly Moser, a Kenton Republican — said they don’t think Gallrein will be a rubber stamp for Trump.

But Gallrein’s victory speech largely focused on supporting Trump’s wishes.

“Now my focus is advancing the president and the party’s agenda to put America first and Kentucky always,” Gallrein said minutes after his victory, beating Massie by just under 10 percentage points, according to The Associated Press.

Moser, who attended Gallrein’s watch party shortly after her own advancement in the primary, said Massie’s votes against Trump-backed policies were an obstruction. Massie has voted against government-funding bills, foreign policy and the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

“I don’t know that it’s helpful to obstruct the president’s policies,” Moser said. “... Not that anyone needs to be a rubber stamp, that’s not at all what I’m saying. I’m saying I appreciate the independent voice, and the conversation that that leads to.”

Still, Massie held onto many voters including younger and anti-establishment supporters, according to the AP. He also saw continued support from some Northern Kentucky politicians, including Kentucky state Reps. TJ Roberts, a Burlington Republican; and Savannah Maddox, a Dry Ridge Republican.

Massie lost former Covington Vice Mayor Steve Frank’s vote after blocking the COVID-19 relief bill several years ago.

“If you’re going to shut the whole economy down, you got to do something for people who don’t have a paycheck ... ,” Frank said of the pandemic relief. “People are gonna f------ hate your guts. You will never be forgiven, son.”

Massie also voted against measures supporting Israel. Pro-Israel lobbyists, including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee pumped over $9 million into unseating Massie, according to Politico.

“It spiraled out of control particularly after Oct. 7, you know, I’m Jewish,” Frank said, referencing the date Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip, which led to about 1,200 deaths, mostly Israeli civilians.

He felt Massie’s opposition to Trump was a publicity grab.

“He’s a do-nothing. Even the Epstein stuff, he waves a bloody flag,” Frank said. “He’s not looking for a solution. He just wants an image. He just wants an issue.”

The 4th Congressional District covers Frank and Moser’s areas, and 20 other counties in Northern Kentucky, along the Ohio River.

Gallrein will take on Democratic nominee Melissa Strange in the general election.