Indiana primary results could be bad news for U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie and welcome news for Ed Gallrein, the Trump-endorsed Republican who’s challenging the incumbent in this year’s Kentucky primary.
Six of seven Indiana state senators – who defied President Donald Trump’s agenda on redistricting – were ousted in the state’s primary election May 5, USA TODAY reported.
The candidates’ upset is a strong indication that while Trump is a lame duck president, his influence over the Republican party isn’t waning.
“An endorsement from President Trump is always gold at any time, but it’s extraordinarily valuable in a Republican primary,” Tim Murdaugh, a Gallrein campaign advisor, told The Enquirer in a statement May 6.
Will Thomas Massie’s ‘Trump antibodies’ be enough?
Massie, who’s said he has “Trump antibodies,” has publicly feuded with Trump on and off for years. He managed to win reelection in the Bluegrass state, where Trump also easily won the vote in the past three presidential elections.
Massie’s opposition to Trump’s fiscal and international policies since the start of the president’s second term have put him in Trump’s crosshairs, though.
Millions of dollars have been spent on anti-Massie and pro-Gallrein advertisements and events. And in March, Trump spoke at a rally in Hebron, in Massie’s district, where he brought Gallrein onstage and called for Massie to be ousted in the primary.
But will that make a difference on Election Day on May 19?
Massie’s legacy points toward victory, expert says
Polls can be fallible. But the most recent independent poll in the Massie-Gallrein race shows the incumbent leading with 46.8% over Gallrein’s 37.7%.
The poll was conducted by Quantus Insights in early April and included more than 400 likely Republican voters.
“I expect Massie would be successful in his district. He’s just ahead and he’s well-liked,” Shauna Reilly, political science professor at Northern Kentucky University, said.
She also noted that Massie has been campaigning across the district in a way she hasn’t seen in years. But she can’t know for sure whether he’ll pull off a victory.
Kentucky, like Indiana, seeing barrage of ads
She said the Indiana primary had a lot of the same elements as the Massie race – Trump openly endorsing GOP challengers and millions spent on advertising and campaigning.
That can make a difference, she said.
“Ads do certainly have an impact,” Reilly said. “The more you see them, the more impact they do have, particularly in a vacuum of sources of information.”
Massie’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the Indiana primary.
Murdaugh, the Gallrein campaign advisor, said he’s confident of victory.
“The results in Indiana and Ohio prove that Republican voters want leaders who will work with President Trump, not actively scheme against him like Massie has done,” he said.
Have a news tip? Comment? You can reach Northern Kentucky reporter Jolene Almendarez at jolenea@usatodayco.com or follow her on social media. Keep up with Northern Kentucky news at NKY.com or by downloading our NKY news app.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Could Trump purge in Indiana foretell Rep. Thomas Massie’s fate?
Reporting by Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
