Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has already set his sights on a return to Washington, filing paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for the 2028 election cycle just days after losing his primary to a candidate backed by former President Donald Trump.
“I filed with FEC for the 2028 House race,” Massie announced on social media Monday. “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.” He added that he has not made a final decision on which office to seek, leaving the door open for a possible presidential bid.
The filing designates his Kentucky-based campaign committee as his principal committee for 2028 and authorizes the Transportation Trust Fund—a joint fundraising committee that pools money for over 30 House Republicans—to receive and spend funds on his behalf. According to FEC records, that fund has collected $98,000 in contributions this cycle and transferred more than $43,000 to other committees.
Primary Loss to Trump Ally
Massie lost the GOP primary in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District last Tuesday to Ed Gallrein, a candidate Trump endorsed after Massie broke with the former president on key issues. Those disagreements included the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, and opposition to military action against Iran. The defeat came as Trump has increasingly targeted Republican critics, a dynamic seen in his recent attacks on GOP lawmakers over the emerging Iran deal.
During his concession speech, supporters chanted “2028,” and when Massie suggested a House run, they shouted “No” and repeatedly yelled “President.” Massie smirked and replied, “Alright, well you’ve made a compelling argument, you spoke your peace, but I need a medical margarita right now and we’ll talk about it later.”
The next day, he posted a video of the chant on social media, writing, “I lost the election but we started a revolution. Keep the flame of LIBERTY burning my friends! I will continue to put People and Principles before Party. America First!”
What’s Next for Massie?
In a Sunday interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Massie said he would “not rule out anything” regarding his political future. “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,” he told host Kristen Welker. “I don’t know if I want to screw that up again. 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.”
Massie indicated he will remain politically active, possibly from outside Congress. “Maybe it’s from the outside. I’ve been exposing what’s going on in Washington, D.C. for years, and I’ll keep doing it,” he said. The move comes as Trump continues to consolidate GOP support, including his all-in backing of Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate runoff, signaling that Massie’s path back to office may require navigating a party increasingly loyal to the former president.
