At his victory party, Gallrein told supporters he had come “a long way” from his childhood at his family’s dairy farm to become the nominee.
“The winner of the race tonight is not so much Ed Gallrein,” he said. “It’s the Republicans of Kentucky district four and their families who I will be a champion for in Washington.”
He went on to thank Trump for his support and his “counsel” during the race.
Many of the president’s biggest donors backed Gallrein, and more than $32m (£23m) was spent on campaign advertising in the Kentucky district.
In his concession speech, Massie said voters had indicated they wanted someone who would “go along to get along”, but added: “There is a yearning in this country for somebody who will vote for principles over party.”
He criticised the administration’s foreign aid spending, the plans to build a White House ballroom, the large donations to his opponent and a decision by Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth to campaign in Kentucky for Gallrein on Monday.
“They panicked and sent the Secretary of War here, and you stopped the war for a day,” he said, as his supporters cheered his name and chanted “America first”.
On Monday, Trump criticised Massie in a series of social media posts, calling him “an obstructionist and a fool”.
Massie then touted his record of voting with Trump “90% of the time,” but added that the president and his allies “want 100% compliance”.
“It’s only the 10% of the time they’re mad about – when I won’t vote for a war, when I won’t vote for warrantless spying and when I won’t vote to bankrupt the country,” he said.
