President Trump unseated Representative Thomas Massie, a prominent Republican critic in Congress, and succeeded in other primary contests.
On Tuesday night, Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky lost to his Trump-backed challenger despite running a robust campaign. Source: Michael Swensen for The New York Times, May 19, 2026.
Although Trump’s approval rating is low and his party risks losing seats in Congress, Republican primary voters show strong loyalty to him. Trump’s endorsed candidates triumphed or led in primaries across Georgia, Alabama, and Kentucky. Massie, a notable critic of Trump, was defeated in Kentucky, marking his exit from Congress.
Earlier, Trump’s endorsement of Ken Paxton in Texas dealt a significant blow to Senator John Cornyn’s re-election hopes ahead of a crucial runoff election next week.
This situation highlights how Trump, despite being in his second term and close to 80 years old, maintains his hold over the Republican Party. Here are eight insights from the primary elections in six states on Tuesday:
Massie’s Defeat: A Warning for Trump Skeptics
Republican politicians face a clear message: opposing Trump in primaries is risky. Massie’s defeat in Kentucky follows the pattern seen with Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and several Indiana state senators. These politicians lost their primaries after resisting Trump’s holds and endorsements went to their rivals.