By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-rep-thomas-massies-full-concession-speech-after-defeat-in-kentucky-gop-primary Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Rep. Thomas Massie's full concession speech after defeat in Kentucky GOP primary Politics May 20, 2026 8:02 PM EDT Ed Gallrein won Republican nomination for U.S. House in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, beating incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie on Tuesday. Trump handpicked Gallrein after Massie broke with him over issues including the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Watch Massie's full concession speech in the video player above. In announcing that he conceded defeat to Gallrein, Massie also made a jab at his opponent over the millions of dollars poured in to the race by pro-Israel groups to try to defeat the incumbent. WATCH: After Massie defeat, Trump says it 'doesn't work out well' when GOP members vote against him "I would have come out sooner, but I had to call my opponent and concede and it took a while to find Ed Gallrein in Tel Aviv," Massie told the crowd. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Massie has voted against U.S. aid to Israel and faced accusations of antisemitism. He has denied the charges, arguing that he is generally against all foreign aid. The race drew in millions of dollars against Massie from pro-Israel interest groups, including from the Republican Jewish Coalition Victory Fund. The Kentucky congressman claimed in his speech after his defeat that young voters were still on his side. "People that want somebody that will go along to get along, I've never heard of that strategy but that seems to be what the voters want," Massie said. "But not the young voters." The crowd was still energetic despite Massie's loss, and started a chant of "No more wars!" that the congressman joined in on. Massie's speech meandered through different topics and touched on other politicians before another chant started of "America First!" "We stirred up something. There is a yearning in this country for someone who will vote for principles over party," Massie said. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
Ed Gallrein won Republican nomination for U.S. House in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, beating incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie on Tuesday. Trump handpicked Gallrein after Massie broke with him over issues including the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Watch Massie's full concession speech in the video player above. In announcing that he conceded defeat to Gallrein, Massie also made a jab at his opponent over the millions of dollars poured in to the race by pro-Israel groups to try to defeat the incumbent. WATCH: After Massie defeat, Trump says it 'doesn't work out well' when GOP members vote against him "I would have come out sooner, but I had to call my opponent and concede and it took a while to find Ed Gallrein in Tel Aviv," Massie told the crowd. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Massie has voted against U.S. aid to Israel and faced accusations of antisemitism. He has denied the charges, arguing that he is generally against all foreign aid. The race drew in millions of dollars against Massie from pro-Israel interest groups, including from the Republican Jewish Coalition Victory Fund. The Kentucky congressman claimed in his speech after his defeat that young voters were still on his side. "People that want somebody that will go along to get along, I've never heard of that strategy but that seems to be what the voters want," Massie said. "But not the young voters." The crowd was still energetic despite Massie's loss, and started a chant of "No more wars!" that the congressman joined in on. Massie's speech meandered through different topics and touched on other politicians before another chant started of "America First!" "We stirred up something. There is a yearning in this country for someone who will vote for principles over party," Massie said. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now