Ed Gallrein, a formidable challenger to Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, has garnered significant financial backing, raising an impressive $1.
2 million in the final quarter of 2025, as his campaign exclusively revealed to Breitbart News.
According to Breitbart, Gallrein's campaign spokesman, Lance Trover, emphasized the strong support for Gallrein, stating, "This fundraising number reflects the overwhelming support Eds campaign has received right out of the gate." Trover further highlighted President Donald Trump's endorsement of Gallrein, noting, "President Trump endorsed Ed because he knows Ed is fighting to put America First and will partner with him to unleash our economy, lower taxes, and stop the woke agenda."
Gallrein, a family farmer and retired U.S. Navy SEAL, entered the race for the GOP nomination in Kentucky's fourth congressional district in October, with 99 percent of the donations earmarked for the primary, underscoring the Republican base's desire to see Massie replaced.
Once a prominent conservative voice, Massie has recently aligned with Democrats in opposing Trump's initiatives. Notably, Massie was the sole Republican to vote against the One Big Beautiful Bill and collaborated with Democrats on a discharge petition concerning the Epstein Files, which Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson initially opposed.
Despite initial resistance, the measure gained bipartisan support and was signed into law by Trump after passing Congress nearly unanimously. This shift in Massie's stance has fueled Trump's determination to back a challenger, leading him to endorse Gallrein.
In a December interview on Breitbart News Saturday, Gallrein criticized Massie, asserting that he "sees a problem with every solution." Gallrein praised Trump's agenda, saying, "The president laid his agenda out in black and white during the election. The president won all of the swing states, he won this district by nearly 70 to 30."
He further accused Massie of siding with Democrats, stating, "Regrettably, our voice for Congress in Washington is the voice of the Democratic Party." Trump's endorsement of Gallrein was unequivocal, as he urged him to run against Massie, describing Massie as a "totally ineffective LOSER" and declaring, "CAPTAIN ED GALLREIN IS A WINNER WHO WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN."
Gallrein's distinguished career as a Navy SEAL officer, including service on SEAL Team Six and achieving the rank of Captain, adds to his appeal as a candidate. With substantial funds raised in a short period, Gallrein poses a credible threat to Massie's incumbency.
Should Gallrein maintain this momentum into the first and second quarters of 2026, the May 19 primary could witness a significant political upset.
Login