Kentucky Primary: Massie wins GOP race in 4th District; Biden, Trump roll to victories (2024)

Kentucky Primary: Massie wins GOP race in 4th District; Biden, Trump roll to victories (1)

By FOX19 Digital Staff and The Associated Press

Published: May. 21, 2024 at 6:34 PM EDT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP/WXIX) — Rep. Thomas Massie’s role in thefailed bid to oust House Speaker Mike Johnsondidn’t harm his standing with Republican voters in his Kentucky district, where he easily won his primary election on Tuesday in the conservative stronghold.

Massie far outdistanced challengers Eric Deters and Michael McGinnis to maintain his hold on the seat representing the 4th District, which stretches across northern Kentucky. With no Democratic opponent in the fall, Massie’s primary victory cleared his way to claim another term in November.

KENTUCKY 2024 PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS

The libertarian-leaning congressman said his victory amounted to a “referendum on thousands of independent votes I have cast in Washington, D.C., on behalf of Kentucky’s 4th District.”

“I want to thank the voters for trusting me to represent them again, and I look forward to continuing our fight for personal liberty, economic freedom, fiscal responsibility and constitutionally limited government,” Massie said in a statement.

Donald Trump rolled to victory in the GOP presidential primary with 85 percent of the vote with 95 percent of the vote counted. Niki Haley was second with six percent.

President Joe Biden won the state’s Democratic presidential nomination with 71 percent of the vote. Sixteen percent of the state’s democratic vote was “uncommitted.”

With four open seats, the City of Covington Commissioners election results as of 9:24 p.m.:

  1. Shannon Smith, 15 percent (1,200 votes)
  2. Tim Downing, 14 percent (1,134)
  3. Bill Wells, 13 percent (992)
  4. James Toebbe, 12 percent (954)
  5. Tim Acri, 10 percent (752)
  6. Bradie Bowen, 9 percent (704)
  7. Cari Garriga, 9 percent (701)
  8. Aaron Wolpert, 8 percent (608)
  9. Morgan Davenport, 7 percent (561)
  10. Devin Kroner, 4 percent (309)

State Races

In state senate races, Steve Rawlings and Matt Nunn won their Republican primaries

Kimberly Poore Moser was ahead of Karen Campbell in the District 64 state house Republican primary ace with a 51-49 lead with 99 percent of the vote counted.

Other state house primary race winners:

  • District 47: Felicia Rabourn
  • District 60: Marianne Proctor
  • District 61: Savannah Maddox
  • District 66: T.J. Roberts
  • District 67: Terry Hatton
  • District 69: Steven Doan

Other Races

Elsewhere, the dean of Kentucky’s congressional delegation, Republican Rep. Hal Rogers, easily defeated three challengers in the 5th District covering eastern and parts of southern Kentucky. No Democrat is running for the seat. Rogers is a senior member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which positions him to steer federal money back to his Appalachian district.

Rep. Morgan McGarvey, the state’s only Democratic congressman, coasted to victory over two opponents in the Louisville-area 3rd District. In November, he’ll be challenged by Republican Mike Craven, who won his primary in the Democratic-leaning district.

Republican Rep. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, will be opposed by Democrat Erin Marshall after both were unopposed in the 1st District primary. The Bluegrass State’s other congressmen — Republicans Brett Guthrie and Andy Barr — were unopposed in the primary.

Massie’s congressional race drew attention for his reputation of defying his party’s leaders — from then-President Donald Trump to the House speaker — without being punished by his constituents.

Massie aligned with fellow Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in the recent attempt to remove Johnson from his post as speaker. Massie co-sponsored Greene’s ouster resolution, which was overwhelmingly rejected by their colleagues.

Before the primary,Massie sounded unconcernedabout any blowback from voters for trying to remove the speaker — nicknamed “MAGA Mike Johnson” by Trump. The former president remains enormously popular in the district.

“It’s a lot of inside baseball and ultimately, because he’s still the speaker, I think a lot of people don’t care,” Massie said last week.

Four years ago,Massie drew Trump’s wrathwhen the congressman singlehandedly caused a delay in passing a massive COVID-19 relief package. Trump called the Kentuckian a “third rate Grandstander.”

An unapologetic Massie said he tried to hold up what he considered to be an unconstitutional vote for a wasteful bill. Massie deflected Trump’s jabs by joking he was at least “second rate” as a grandstander.

Despite the presidential smackdown, Massie cruised to reelection that year. Two years later,Massie picked up the former president’s endorsem*nton his way to another reelection victory.

“They still appreciate somebody who will come up here and vote the way he believes is best, even if it’s at odds with Trump sometimes,” Massie said of his constituents. “So that’s sort of my brand at this point.”

In another twist, Massie supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ failed bid for the White House, again risking Trump’s anger. The ex-president didn’t give an endorsem*nt in Massie’s primary race this year.

Massie’s challengers included Deters, a former gubernatorial candidate who played up his steadfast support for Trump and portrayed Massie as a “goofball” lacking accomplishments in Congress.

Since joining Congress in late 2012, Massie has been known as an avid deficit hawk and staunch gun-rights supporter. In a recent post on the social platform X, Massie wrote: “America is on a path that won’t end well. We are borrowing money at an unsustainable rate, accumulating enemies through endless war, and eroding rights like free speech & privacy.”

Kentucky’s most contentious campaign in the fall is likely to be over a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow taxpayer money to flow to private or charter schools. If it is ratified by voters, state lawmakers could then decide whether to support private or charter school education with public funds.The state’s popular Democratic governor, Andy Beshear,will align with the Kentucky Education Association, a group representing tens of thousands of public school educators, in opposing the measure.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.

Copyright 2024 WXIX, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Kentucky Primary: Massie wins GOP race in 4th District; Biden, Trump roll to victories (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Domingo Moore

Last Updated:

Views: 6225

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Domingo Moore

Birthday: 1997-05-20

Address: 6485 Kohler Route, Antonioton, VT 77375-0299

Phone: +3213869077934

Job: Sales Analyst

Hobby: Kayaking, Roller skating, Cabaret, Rugby, Homebrewing, Creative writing, amateur radio

Introduction: My name is Domingo Moore, I am a attractive, gorgeous, funny, jolly, spotless, nice, fantastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.