US: Anti-Aipac congressman unseated in most expensive House primary ever

US: Anti-Aipac congressman unseated in most expensive House primary ever Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Tue, 05/19/2026 - 21:26 Thomas Massie lost to the Trump-endorsed former Navy Seal, Ed Gallrein Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie is pictured at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on 29 April 2026 (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) Off Thomas Massie, the Republican congressman who voted down foreign aid packages and heavily criticised pro-Israel lobbying groups' influence in US politics, lost his primary race in Kentucky on Tuesday. It was the most expensive US primary race of all time as outside groups - namely pro-Israel political action committees - poured millions of dollars into anti-Massie ad campaigns to oust him from Washington.  "Congratulations to US Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein for defeating anti-Israel incumbent Thomas Massie!" the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) posted to X on Tuesday. "Pro-Israel Americans are proud to back candidates who support a strong [US-Israel] alliance and help defeat those who work to undermine it. Being pro-Israel is good policy and good politics!" 68-year-old Gallrein, who has never held elected office before, will now be the Republican candidate for the House of Representatives in Kentucky's 4th District, come November's midterm elections. He had previously pledged his loyalty to President Donald Trump. In return, Trump gave Gallrein his endorsement.  Massie, the president said on Monday, is "the worst congressman in the long and storied history of the Republican party". Massie himself has voted to back Trump's agenda more than 90 percent of the time, and they both agree on issues important...

Original source: Middle East Eye