Rep. Thomas Massie has long been known as a Republican lawmaker who isn't shy to defy House leadership. (Getty Images)
Massie told reporters in late April that his voters were behind him, however, even as a litany of GOP lawmakers lined up to deride the effort and warn it would cost them the November election.
"I haven't gotten any blowback," Massie said at the time. "I explained the problem with Mike Johnson and the three big betrayals he's made to the majority of Republicans here and the majority of Republicans back home. And they understand."
He’s also one of the rare few Republicans who have not shied away from confronting former President Donald Trump.
FOX NEWS POLL: ABORTION, ECONOMY, AND BORDER SECURITY ARE TOP DEAL-BREAKERS IN 2024 ELECTIONS
Massie clashed with former President Trump on multiple occasions. (Photo by SETH WENIG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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He brushed off AIPAC’s threat in a statement to voters before polls closed, however, writing on X, "Election Day in KY! It’s a referendum on whether a guy can go to DC and vote against foreign aid, foreign wars, and sanctions, while supporting free speech, privacy, & the [Second Amendment]. AIPAC claims to have spent $400k against me. They won’t be happy tonight!"
His challengers included former Kentucky gubernatorial candidate Eric Deters and Michael McGinnis, a self-described "sixth generation Kentuckian," according to his campaign site.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
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