{"id":2606499,"date":"2026-05-24T13:27:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T17:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/massie-says-he-lost-reelection-due-to-his-bipartisan-efforts-to-release-the-epstein-files\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T13:28:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T17:28:08","slug":"massie-says-he-lost-reelection-due-to-his-bipartisan-efforts-to-release-the-epstein-files","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/massie-says-he-lost-reelection-due-to-his-bipartisan-efforts-to-release-the-epstein-files\/","title":{"rendered":"Massie says he lost reelection due to his bipartisan efforts to release the Epstein files"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/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%2Fmassie-says-he-lost-reelection-due-to-his-bipartisan-efforts-to-release-the-epstein-files%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=2606499&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>Rep. Thomas massie (R-KY) said he lost his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sidney-powell-is-an-american-legal-giant\/\" title=\"Sidney Powell Is an American Legal Giant\">reelection bid<\/a> to challenger Ed Gallrein largely because he sometimes worked with Democrats rather than consistently voting with Republicans.He pointed to his support for releasing the Epstein files with Democrats such as Rep. Ro Khanna, as well as his opposition to key Trump spending initiatives like the \u201cOne Big gorgeous Bill\u201d due to deficit concerns.<\/p>\n<p>Massie lost by nearly 10 percentage points, ending his current time in Congress. The article notes the race became the most expensive House primary in history, with pro-Trump and Gallrein-aligned groups spending heavily to unseat massie.Khanna described Massie as audacious for taking on powerful interests and for helping to stop a war in Iran-positions he said cost Massie his seat.<\/p>\n<p>In November, Gallrein is expected to win the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/impossible-gop-picked-up-seats-in-house-picked-up-state-legislatures-picked-up-governorship-held-the-senate-but-sniffy-joe-won-not-a-chance\/\" title=\"IMPOSSIBLE: GOP Picked Up Seats in House, Picked Up State Legislatures, Picked Up Governorship, Held the Senate -- But Sniffy Joe Won?... NOT A CHANCE\">general election<\/a>. Massie indicated he wouldn\u2019t rule out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bigotry-is-on-the-ballot-sunny-hostin-claims-desantis-is-trying-to-cover-up-social-injustice\/\" title=\"\u2018Bigotry Is On The Ballot\u2019: Sunny Hostin Claims DeSantis Is Trying To Cover Up \u2018Social Injustice\u2019\">future political runs<\/a>, including possibly later office or even a long-term presidential bid, but said he\u2019s currently enjoying time on his farm with his family.  <\/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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thomas-massie\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17668\">Thomas Massie <\/a>(R-KY) blamed his reelection loss to challenger Ed Gallrein on the times he has worked across the aisle with Democrats instead of voting with Republicans, particularly pointing to his advocacy for 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>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Massie fell to Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL backed by President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>, by a near <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cnn-concedes-donald-trump-has-remade-the-electorate-based-on-latest-polling\/\" title=\"CNN Concedes Donald ... Has &#039;Remade the Electorate,&#039; Based on Latest Polling\">10 percentage point margin<\/a> on Tuesday evening, marking the end of his career in Congress for now and handing a win to Trump, who grew frustrated with Massie\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >hard-line libertarian-conservative stances<\/a> against some of his administration\u2019s policies. Massie not only championed the Epstein files with Democrats like Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ro-khanna\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"5039\">Ro Khanna<\/a> (D-CA), but also voted against key Trump spending initiatives like the One Big Beautiful Bill because of his stance against the growing deficit.<\/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\/4579519\/democrats-poach-maha-voters-midterms\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Can Democrats poach MAHA voters ahead of the midterm elections?<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4577942\/platner-trump-like-response-maine-scandals-polls\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Platner demonstrates Trump-like Teflon response to scandals in polls<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4580476\/mike-collins-staffer-fired-unauthorized-x-post\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mike Collins fires staffer over \u2018despicable and unauthorized\u2019 X post<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think the biggest crime I committed against the swamp, Kristen, was showing the American people that somebody on the right could join somebody on the left and get something done, which is releasing the Epstein files that everybody knew needed to be done. That\u2019s probably the only bill that\u2019s passed Washington, D.C., in the last 10 years that lobbyists haven\u2019t written,\u201d Massie told Kristen Welker on NBC\u2019s <em>Meet the Press<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The primary between Massie and Gallrein became the most expensive primary in House history, as pro-Trump and Gallrein forces spent against the sitting congressman to uproot his tenure in the lower chamber. Khanna also went on the network on Sunday, telling Welker that he reacted with \u201csadness\u201d and \u201cdisappointment\u201d to Massie\u2019s loss.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThomas is a real friend, he\u2019s a good man, and he was taken out for two reasons: one, he had the courage to go after some very powerful people in working with me to get the Epstein Transparency Act passed,\u201d Khanna said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSecond, he worked with me to stop this war in Iran. So, for taking on the Epstein class and taking on war, he basically lost his seat, and I admire his courage in taking those positions,\u201d Khanna continued.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4575969\/massie-ousted-georgia-democrats-big-turnout-what-you-missed-primaries\/\">MASSIE OUSTED, GEORGIA DEMOCRATS BIG TURNOUT, AND RUNOFFS SET. WHAT YOU MISSED FROM LAST NIGHT\u2019S PRIMARIES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kentucky\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"30\">Kentucky<\/a>\u2018s deep-red fourth district, Gallrein is poised to win in the November general election and take the seat after winning the GOP primary. As far as Massie\u2019s political future, he\u2019s fielded some <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4575766\/thomas-massie-hints-2028-run-kentucky\/\">speculation that he could be eyeing a 2028<\/a> presidential election run. He told the network that he \u201cwon\u2019t rule anything out,\u201d including a future run for local office, but said he\u2019s been getting comfortable on his farm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI will not rule out anything and, right now, I\u2019m not going to rule in anything. Look, I\u2019ve spent the last five days on my farm with my grandkids and my cattle and my peach trees, and it\u2019s pretty nice life. I don\u2019t know if I want to screw that up again,\u201d Massie said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Massie lost to Trump-backed Gallrein, blaming his bipartisan work<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2606500,"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\/AP26140015301634.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[40925,51209,4850,5894,8607],"class_list":["post-2606499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-bipartisan-efforts","tag-epstein-files","tag-massie","tag-politics","tag-re-election"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26140015301634.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2606499","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\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2606499"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2606499\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2606503,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2606499\/revisions\/2606503"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2606500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2606499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2606499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2606499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}