Pro-Israel voices Levin and Dershowitz celebrate US Rep. Massie's primary defeat
Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie faced a major political setback Wednesday after losing his Republican primary to Trump-backed former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein. The defeat followed a bruising and expensive campaign shaped heavily by debates over Israel, foreign policy and the direction of the Republican Party.
Tuesday night, Kentucky Republican voters delivered a decisive verdict. Massie lost his Republican primary to Gallrein in one of the most expensive and closely watched House races in the country.
The contest also became a key test of whether a Republican could survive politically while repeatedly clashing with pro-Israel groups and opposing major Israel-related legislation.
Massie himself quickly reignited controversy during his concession speech with a line critics viewed as a reference to Jewish influence in the race. “I would have come out sooner, but I had to call my opponent to concede and it took a while to find Ed Gallrein in Tel Aviv.”
Reaction from prominent pro-Israel voices underscored how closely the race was tied to debates over Israel within the Republican coalition. Conservative radio host Mark Levin told All Israel News that Massie’s defeat reflected broader divisions inside the party. “Massie’s massive defeat shows that the so-called podcast influencers and their vile antisemitism have little influence in the Republican Party,” he said. “But we will battle them and the Marxists-Islamists in the Democrat Party for as long as it takes. Our resolve, my resolve, is forever and a day.”
Attorney and longtime Israel advocate Alan Dershowitz also commented to All Israel News about the result. “The defeat of a blatant Jew hating, anti-Israel bigot is good news for our nation, for the Republican Party, and for decency,” Dershowitz told us. “Now we have to defeat his mirror image Democrat haters.”
The comments reflected how the race evolved beyond a standard Kentucky primary into a broader fight over Israel, antisemitism, foreign policy and the future direction of the Republican coalition.
Back during the 2024 GOP primary, Massie cruised to victory with roughly 75% of the vote. This time, he finished with about 45%, a sharp decline from his previous performance.
Many political observers pointed to President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Gallrein as a major factor. But Israel-related issues also became central to the race as millions of dollars from pro-Israel aligned groups poured into the contest while Massie repeatedly accused outside groups of targeting him because of his positions on Israel.
According to campaign tracking and FEC data cited during the race, the United Democracy Project (UDP), AIPAC’s political arm, spent more than $4 million, while the Republican Jewish Coalition Victory Fund spent nearly $4 million backing Gallrein.
Overall, pro-Israel-aligned spending and related outside groups accounted for well over $15 million in the race.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee celebrated immediately after the result: “Voters across America sent a resounding message tonight: they support Democratic and Republican candidates who view a strong U.S.-Israel relationship as an American interest and reject those who focus on attacking that alliance and pro-Israel Americans…”
“Massie has been one of the most consistently hostile voices in Congress toward the U.S.-Israel relationship and the millions of Americans who support it. Our community was proud to support Gallrein and help ensure Massie’s defeat,” the committee said.
The Republican Jewish Coalition was equally direct: “For years, the Republican Jewish Coalition has opposed Thomas Massie, and for good reason. Massie has been a thorn in the side of President Trump, the Republican Party, and the Jewish community writ large, siding time and again with the far-left Squad on top issues of concern…”
“Massie has stood alone among House Republicans in opposing aid to our ally Israel, voting against bipartisan resolutions condemning antisemitism, and, in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack — the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust — Massie voted against emergency assistance for Israel as it fought a war for its very survival. His record is indefensible, and tonight, the Republican primary voters of Kentucky held him accountable,” it concluded.
By the final weeks of the campaign, the race increasingly centered on broader disputes over U.S. Middle East policy and Republican foreign policy divisions. Massie opposed U.S. involvement in the war with Iran, placing him at odds with Trump and many leading pro-Israel organizations.
In the end, the race became a closely watched test of whether a Republican candidate could remain politically viable while repeatedly challenging Israel aid, criticizing aspects of U.S.-Israel policy and confronting major pro-Israel advocacy groups. Kentucky voters delivered a clear answer Tuesday night.
David Brody is a senior contributor for ALL ISRAEL NEWS. He is a 38-year Emmy Award veteran of the television industry and continues to serve as Chief Political Analyst for CBN News/The 700 Club, a role he has held for 23 years. David is the author of two books including, “The Faith of Donald Trump” and has been cited as one of the top 100 influential evangelicals in America by Newsweek Magazine. He’s also been listed as one of the country’s top 15 political power players in the media by Adweek Magazine.
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