Massie, Gallrein make final pushes ahead of primary as Hegseth endorses the latter

OKAY. NOW TO OUR COMMITMENT 2026 COVERAGE. THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR U.S. HOUSE MADE THEIR FINAL PUSH TO KENTUCKY VOTERS. WE HAVE LIVE TEAM COVERAGE OF THE ELECTION FOR YOU TONIGHT, INCLUDING WHAT VOTERS NEED TO KNOW BEFORE HEADING TO THE POLLS TOMORROW. WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH ALEXIS MATHEWS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, WHERE AND THOMAS MASSIE STOPPED AHEAD OF TOMORROW’S PRIMARY. HI, ALEXIS. PROBABLY BLEW UP THE PLACE. VICKI. RICK. GOOD EVENING. ONE OF THOSE STOPS INCLUDED A RARE APPEARANCE BY A SITTING WAR SECRETARY TODAY. PETE HAS SAID PUBLICLY ENDORSED RYAN, BUT HIS CHALLENGER, THOMAS MASSIE, APPEARED TO BE UNFAZED. NOW IN THE HOTBED RACE FOR KENTUCKY’S FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, REPUBLICAN CHALLENGERS ED O’BRIEN AND THOMAS MASSIE MADE A FINAL PLEA TO VOTERS. WE’RE GOING TO GO NOW TO THE STORY IN THE HOTBED RACE FOR KENTUCKY’S FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, REPUBLICAN CHALLENGERS ED GAUL, RYAN AND THOMAS MASSIE MAKE A FINAL PLEA TO VOTERS IN THE COMMONWEALTH GAUL. RYAN VISITED HEBRON MONDAY, JOINED BY U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH. THINK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN HISTORY RIGHT NOW. AND YOU’RE HAVING A SECRETARY OF WAR COMING HERE TO LITTLE OLD KENTUCKY TO SEE YOU TODAY. IS THAT SOMETHING? HECK, SETH, WHO TRAVELED TO FORT CAMPBELL AHEAD OF THIS STOP, VOICED SUPPORT FOR RYAN. BOTH SHARE MILITARY BACKGROUNDS, WHICH SETH BELIEVES MAKES HIM THE RIGHT CHOICE. THE SHELBY COUNTY NATIVE IS ALSO ENDORSED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP. THIS RACE MATTERS. THAT’S WHY I’M PROUD HERE TO STAND WITH ED, THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TYPICALLY REMAINS IMPARTIAL TO MAINTAIN THE MILITARY’S APOLITICAL IMAGE. HECK, SETH, WHILE CHAMPIONING FOR RYAN, ALSO TOOK SHOTS AT HIS OPPONENT. TOO OFTEN, THOMAS MASSIE IS ACTING LIKE HIS JOB IS TO STAND APART FROM THE MOVEMENT THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP LEADS INSTEAD OF STRENGTHENING IT. WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP NEEDS BACKUP, MASSIE WANTS TO DEBATE MASSIE, ALSO IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY. MONDAY, DOES NOT APPEAR CONCERNED WITH WHO BACKS HIS CHALLENGER. THE INCUMBENT AFFIRMS THAT HIS SEAT CANNOT BE BOUGHT WHILE LEANING ON TRANSPARENCY THROUGH THE EPSTEIN FILES ACT. HE HELPED PASS, AND HOW HE WILL CONTINUE TO CALL OUT THE TRILLION DOLLAR DEBT. OUR NATION IS EXPERIENCING. THE PRESIDENT’S ENDORSEMENT IS CONSEQUENTIAL. IT REALLY IS. IT’S GOOD FOR ABOUT 20 POINTS IN AN ELECTION, AND I USUALLY BEAT MY OPPONENTS 8020. AND THE PRESIDENT’S ENDORSEMENT, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD RACE, BUT I WOULD WIN 6040. NOW, THERE ARE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIALLY VIOLATING THE HATCH ACT BY PARTICIPATING IN TODAY’S RALLY. BUT PENTAGON OFFICIALS SENT ME A STATEMENT SAYING THAT HE IS ATTENDING IN HIS PERSONAL CAPACITY, AND THIS VISIT IS NOT FUNDED BY T

Updated: 9:31 PM EDT May 18, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Updated: 9:31 PM EDT May 18, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

The race for Kentucky's Fourth Congressional District is down to the wire.Republican voters will choose between incumbent Thomas Massie and challenger Ed Gallrein on Tuesday.Both made their final pushes ahead of the primary on Tuesday.These two candidates have not held back in this race, and Monday was no different.Gallrein was joined by a special visitor to aid his campaign, while Massie was steadfast in his quest to maintain his House seat."If we do not take advantage of this narrow window of opportunity we have, history will punish us," Gallrein said."The problem in D.C. is you got all these people. They make you promises while they're campaigning," Massie said. "Then they go up there and they go along to get along, and they forget all those promises they made you. I am running against a man with a unique campaign slogan. He promises to go along, to get along. That is his main feature."Both made crucial stops in northern Kentucky Monday. Gallrein's visit in Hebron included a show of support by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.The move by a sitting official is being called controversial as defense department leaders tend to stay away from partisan politics."The best warriors like Ed are usually the most humble men in the room. If you've met him and you've met them, you know the type. They don't need applause. They don't seek the spotlight. They don't confuse publicity with accomplishment." Hegseth said.Massie appears to be unfazed by his challenger's endorsements, including being backed by President Donald Trump."They're going to find out that the race is my seat and the price that you have set on it is more than they can afford. Even the billionaires cannot buy this seat," Massie said. "They call me an obstructionist. Sometimes I wish I was better at obstructing. Look, I wear a debt clock that I invented. I have watched it go up $2.7 trillion since Republicans took the House."The Republican challengers' eleventh hour message is that of trust and transparency from Massie and leadership and loyalty from Gallrein.On the Democratic side, the race for congress is between Jesse Brewer and Melissa Strange.

HEBRON, Ky. —

The race for Kentucky's Fourth Congressional District is down to the wire.

Republican voters will choose between incumbent Thomas Massie and challenger Ed Gallrein on Tuesday.

Both made their final pushes ahead of the primary on Tuesday.

These two candidates have not held back in this race, and Monday was no different.

Gallrein was joined by a special visitor to aid his campaign, while Massie was steadfast in his quest to maintain his House seat.

"If we do not take advantage of this narrow window of opportunity we have, history will punish us," Gallrein said.

"The problem in D.C. is you got all these people. They make you promises while they're campaigning," Massie said. "Then they go up there and they go along to get along, and they forget all those promises they made you. I am running against a man with a unique campaign slogan. He promises to go along, to get along. That is his main feature."

Both made crucial stops in northern Kentucky Monday. Gallrein's visit in Hebron included a show of support by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

The move by a sitting official is being called controversial as defense department leaders tend to stay away from partisan politics.

"The best warriors like Ed are usually the most humble men in the room. If you've met him and you've met them, you know the type. They don't need applause. They don't seek the spotlight. They don't confuse publicity with accomplishment." Hegseth said.

Massie appears to be unfazed by his challenger's endorsements, including being backed by President Donald Trump.

"They're going to find out that the race is my seat and the price that you have set on it is more than they can afford. Even the billionaires cannot buy this seat," Massie said. "They call me an obstructionist. Sometimes I wish I was better at obstructing. Look, I wear a debt clock that I invented. I have watched it go up $2.7 trillion since Republicans took the House."

The Republican challengers' eleventh hour message is that of trust and transparency from Massie and leadership and loyalty from Gallrein.

On the Democratic side, the race for congress is between Jesse Brewer and Melissa Strange.

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Massie, Gallrein make final pushes ahead of primary as Hegseth endorses the latter

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