Congressman Thomas Massie, one of the most vocal critics of US President Donald Trump, lost his primary race in Kentucky to Trump-backed former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein. The defeat marks a significant political victory for Trump and highlights his continued influence over the Republican Party.

Massie had angered Trump by opposing military action against Iran, sponsoring the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and resisting parts of the president's agenda. The race was the most expensive US House primary in history, with over $34 million in publicity spending.

More than $19 million was spent to benefit Gallrein, including nearly $9.4 million from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and other pro-Israel groups. These organizations targeted Massie for his vote against US aid to Israel.

In a lengthy concession speech, Massie criticized unquestioning loyalty to the president, warning, 'If the legislative branch always votes with the president, we do have a king.' He also mocked Gallrein for being in Tel Aviv.

In Georgia, the Republican gubernatorial primary heads to a June 16 runoff between Trump-backed Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones and billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson. The race knocked out two high-profile officials who broke with Trump over the 2020 election.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, will face Republican Stacy Garrity in the general election. In Alabama, confusion over redrawn congressional districts may invalidate over 100,000 votes, drawing criticism from civil rights groups.

Source: www.aljazeera.com