Trump Critic Massie Loses in US Primary Election

Here are the key takeaways from Tuesday’s US primaries in Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.

In the Kentucky Republican primary, Ed Gallrein won the congressional seat previously held by Representative Thomas Massie. The outcome was influenced by President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Gallrein, who had been critical of the president on several issues. Massie had opposed military action against Iran and sponsored a bill related to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The primary election was one of the most expensive in US history, with over $34 million spent on publicity. Gallrein received nearly $9.4 million from pro-Israel groups, including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Massie had previously voted against US aid to Israel, which led to targeted advertising by these groups.

In Georgia’s Republican primary for governor, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones will face billionaire Rick Jackson in a June 16 run-off. The contest was marked by the elimination of two high-profile statewide officials: Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Raffensperger had previously broken with Trump over the 2020 election results.

In other states, the primaries were largely uneventful, with no major surprises or upsets reported. The results will likely have implications for Republicans who break with Trump, as his influence continues to be felt in the party.

Source: Al Jazeera