U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie filed a statement of candidacy for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District in the 2028 election, according to Federal Election Commission records, indicating a possibility that he will try to retake the seat after a high-profile loss in last week’s primary.
He also hasn’t ruled out a presidential run.
The May 25 filing comes after primary challenger Ed Gallrein, endorsed and hand-picked by President Donald Trump, defeated Massie by a nearly 10-point margin. When he leaves office in January, Massie will have held the seat for about 14 years, and his ouster follows what was reportedly the most expensive U.S. House primary race in history.
The candidacy filing is a requirement for raising money under federal campaign finance law, and does not necessarily mean Massie is definitively running for the seat in 2028 — but it leaves the door open. The filing lists Massie as a candidate under the Republican Party.
“This allows me to raise funds to continue my political operations supporting my position as a current office holder and as a potential candidate for federal office,” Massie said of the filing in a social media post. “I haven’t made a final decision about which office to seek, if I run.”
During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on May 24, Massie touted his push for releasing documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, and said the GOP had alienated portions of its base, which could “cost the party a lot” in November. Asked whether he was considering a run for president, Massie said he needed time to weigh his options.
“I will not rule out anything, and right now I’m not going to rule in anything,” Massie said. His campaign did not immediately respond to The Courier Journal’s request for comment.
“Look, I’ve spent the last five days on my farm with my grandkids and my cattle and my peach trees, and it’s a pretty nice life. I don’t know if I want to screw that up again,” Massie said. “I’ve been in Congress 14 years fighting. Every hour that passes, I get decompressed a little bit more. It’s like coming up from the bottom of the ocean.
“I’ll take some time and decide what’s next, but I think I will stay engaged in some way or shape. Maybe it’s from the outside,” he added. “I’ve been exposing what’s going on in Washington, D.C. for years, and I’ll keep doing it.”
Connor Giffin is a reporter for The Courier Journal. Reach him directly at cgiffin@courier-journal.com or on X @byconnorgiffin.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Thomas Massie files statement of candidacy for 2028 House race
Reporting by Connor Giffin, Louisville Courier Journal / Louisville Courier Journal
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