{"id":2599569,"date":"2026-05-06T15:39:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T19:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-indiana-triumph-spells-trouble-for-massie-and-cassidy\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T15:41:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T19:41:39","slug":"trumps-indiana-triumph-spells-trouble-for-massie-and-cassidy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-indiana-triumph-spells-trouble-for-massie-and-cassidy\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s Indiana triumph spells trouble for Massie and Cassidy"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrumps-indiana-triumph-spells-trouble-for-massie-and-cassidy%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2599569&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Donald Trump\u2019s influence within the Republican Party was strengthened by Indiana\u2019s primary elections, where several Trump-backed challengers defeated state Senate incumbents after Republicans largely resisted Trump\u2019s push to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nh-dem-blasts-pelosi-voting-reform-bill\/\" title=\"NH Dem Blasts Pelosi Voting Reform Bill\">redraw congressional districts<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The results are seen as a warning to other Republicans Trump has targeted-Sen.Bill Cassidy and Rep.Thomas Massie-both of whom face challenging primaries that Trump has actively challenged through support for their opponents (julia Letlow for Cassidy and Ed Gallrein for Massie). Party strategists argue Indiana showed that Trump\u2019s endorsement remains highly persuasive to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/8-times-ron-desantis-stood-up-to-the-media-and-went-viral\/\" title=\"8 Times Ron DeSantis Stood Up To The Media And Went Viral\">primary voters<\/a>, making those incumbents less confident.<\/p>\n<p>Strategists also note that the feuds driving this targeting include Cassidy\u2019s vote to convict Trump during his second impeachment and Massie\u2019s history of breaking with Trump or the GOP on major issues.Despite the Indiana losses, analysts caution Cassidy\u2019s and Massie\u2019s primary races are not settled as those candidates have ample personal political resources and different campaign dynamics than the Indiana incumbents.<\/p>\n<p>Indiana\u2019s outcome was celebrated by Trump-aligned groups, including Club for Growth Action, which spent heavily to help <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >unseat multiple <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-pa-state-senators-remove-lt-gov-from-chamber-after-refusing-to-unseat-contested-dem-out-of-session\/\" title=\"... Pa. state ...ators remove Lt. Gov. from chamber after refusing to unseat contested Dem out of session\">state senators<\/a><\/a>, while one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/investigators-in-georgia-ballot-harvesting-probe-zero-in-on-funding-eyewitness-whistleblower\/\" title=\"Investigators in Georgia Ballot Harvesting Probe Zero in on Funding, Eyewitness Whistleblower\">trump-backed challenge<\/a> was too close to call and only one incumbent-Greg Goode-survived.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s grip on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"926\">Republican<\/a> Party was reaffirmed during <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/indiana\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1228\">Indiana<\/a>\u2019s state elections, which saw several of the president\u2019s preferred candidates beat out state Senate incumbents.<\/p>\n<p>At least five Indiana state Republicans who snubbed Trump\u2019s push to redraw the state\u2019s congressional districts were ousted during Tuesday night\u2019s primary elections. The president\u2019s victory spells trouble for two other Republicans who have drawn his ire: Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY).<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4557215\/tennessee-gop-release-new-congressional-map\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Tennessee GOP releases new congressional map that splits up blue hubs<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4557004\/bryon-york-trump-derangement-syndrome-big-part-left-wing-senate-run\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Byron York: \u2018Trump derangement syndrome a big part\u2019 of left-wing Senate run<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4557004\/byron-york-trump-derangement-syndrome-big-part-left-wing-senate-run\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Byron York: \u2018Trump derangement syndrome a big part\u2019 of left-wing Senate run<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Trump has endorsed one of Cassidy\u2019s GOP challengers, Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA), as well as Massie\u2019s primary opponent, Ed Gallrein. The targeting has already complicated their reelection paths and could spell doom if the pattern witnessed in Indiana repeats itself.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>\u201cLast night was a test,\u201d Republican strategist Jay Townsend told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cThe answer is now evident, and I could say Louisiana and Kentucky are not Indiana, but based upon what I saw last night, I would guess that Massie and Cassidy are probably a little less confident today than they may have been yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>John Feehery, another Republican strategist, said the Indiana primaries show that Trump\u2019s word is still \u201cgold\u201d for Republican primary voters. <\/p>\n<p>Cassidy\u2019s primary is scheduled for May 16, while Massie\u2019s will be on May 19.<\/p>\n<p>The long-standing feud between Trump and Cassidy dates back to the Louisiana senator\u2019s vote to convict him during his second impeachment trial over the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. More recently, Trump blamed Cassidy for blocking his surgeon general pick, Casey Means, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/4549832\/radiologist-nicole-saphier-maha-casey-means-surgeon-general\/\" type=\"attachment\" id=\"4472468\">forcing him to withdraw<\/a> her nomination.<\/p>\n<p>Massie has also been a thorn in Trump\u2019s side during his second term, often breaking with the Republican Party during major legislative fights. Partnering with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Massie forced the release of the<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/epstein-files\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17582\"> Epstein files<\/a> through a discharge petition, which has plagued Trump since his return to the White House.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has blasted Massie as the \u201cRepublican Party\u2019s Worst \u2018Congressman,&#8217;\u201d saying he hopes he loses \u201cbig.\u201d Despite the president\u2019s attacks, Massie is banking on his name ID to push him across the finish line in his primary.<\/p>\n<p>Feehery said that Massie\u2019s own brand \u201cdefinitely works in his own favor,\u201d and might encourage voters who are not necessarily stalwart Republican primary voters and dislike Trump to vote in the primary election.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf Massie wins, it\u2019ll be a significant case of how you are able to oppose Trump and yet win Republican primaries,\u201d Feehery said. \u201cThose cases have been few and far between. So he would be doing something that\u2019s pretty politically unique.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Still, Townsend told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that Indiana\u2019s primaries would likely \u201cgive any Republican incumbent pause about crossing Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe proved last night that doing that endangers your career in politics,\u201d Townsend said.<\/p>\n<p>Tuesday\u2019s results were celebrated by the president\u2019s allies, especially Club for Growth Action President David McIntosh, whose organization spent $2 million to help oust state Sens. Dan Dernulc, Linda Rogers, Travis Holdman, Jim Buck, and Greg Walker. The race between Trump-backed Paula Copenhaver and state Sen. Spencer Deery was too close to call.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cClub for Growth Action is proud to stand with President Trump and Indiana voters against the RINOs,\u201d said Club for Growth Action President David McIntosh. \u201cThe candidates who failed to support the President\u2019s plan to hold Congress and save the country are now being held accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Only state Sen. Greg Goode survived Tuesday night, defeating a challenge from Trump-backed Brenda Wilson.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the near wipeout in Indiana, Feehery said that Massie\u2019s and Cassidy\u2019s races are not \u201cdone deals.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4552172\/democrats-florida-passed-desantis-map-gerrymander\/\">THE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE SCRAMBLING AFTER FLORIDA PASSED DESANTIS\u2019S MAP GERRYMANDER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think obviously you can make the case that this doesn\u2019t bode well for those campaigns, but I wouldn\u2019t necessarily write them off yet,\u201d Feehery said, explaining that Kentucky and Louisiana are politically different from Indiana.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose are different elections, really, because one, you have the state senators, who don\u2019t have a big fundraising base, and are not \u2014 they\u2019re probably well known in their communities, but they probably didn\u2019t have the resources of the Trump armada,\u201d Feehery said. \u201cBoth Cassidy and Massie have their own resources and ability to fight their own messages.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to Cassidy and Massie for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump\u2019s Indiana win showed his influence over Republicans, ousting anti-districting lawmakers and warning Cassidy and Massie<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2912,"featured_media":2599570,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-v2ygswhqv-1778085231286.jpg?1778080609&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[70344,79220,79221,5894,79222],"class_list":["post-2599569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-donald-trump-2","tag-indiana-elections","tag-midterm-politics","tag-politics","tag-rand-paul-massie-john-cassidy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-v2ygswhqv-1778085231286.jpg?1778080609&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2599569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2912"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2599569"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2599569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2599573,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2599569\/revisions\/2599573"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2599570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2599569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2599569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2599569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}