Massie race breaks spending record as pro-Israel groups target Trump critic

Pro-Israel groups and donors spent heavily in Kentucky’s Republican primary to defeat U.S. Congressman Thomas Massie. The contest between a Trump-endorsed candidate and Massie became the most expensive House primary in U.S. history, with spending totaling more than $34 million by Monday. Massie emphasized the role of pro-Israel groups, including AIPAC, and characterized the election as a referendum on foreign policy and whether lobby groups can pressure members of Congress. He said pro-Israel spending increased, including an additional $3 million over a weekend. Trump attacked Massie on social media, and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth campaigned in Kentucky for the challenger. Massie criticized unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel and alleged abuses in Gaza and Lebanon, and he supported releasing government files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Most spending came from outside super PACs rather than from the candidates themselves.

"Pro-Israel groups and donors spend heavily in Kentucky's Republican primary to defeat US Congressman Thomas Massie. The race pitting a candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump against Congressman Thomas Massie, a rare Republican critic of Israel, has become the most expensive House of Representatives primary contest in the history of the United States. The avalanche of spending, totalling more than $34m by Monday, according to official records, highlights the significance of the elections that could oust one of the few Republican opponents to the war with Iran."

"In the final stretch of the campaign ahead of Tuesday's vote, Massie has sought to highlight the oversized role of pro-Israel groups including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in the race. He said the election will be a referendum on foreign policy and whether pro-Israel lobby groups will be able to bully members of Congress. You can tell that I'm ahead in the polls, and they're desperate, Massie told ABC News on Sunday. That's why they're sending the secretary of war to my district tomorrow. That's why the president's losing sleep and tweeting about this. That's why AIPAC has dumped another $3m into my race this weekend."

"Trump has been incessantly bashing Massie on social media, and in an unusual move, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has travelled to Kentucky to campaign for Ed Gallrein, the Navy SEAL veteran challenging the congressman. Massie has been critical of the unconditional US military aid to Israel and of the country's abuses in Gaza and Lebanon. He has also helped spearhead the push for the release of government files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein."

"Despite the intensity of the race, the candidates have not raised record amounts of money themselves. The bulk of the spending, more than $25.8m, has come from outside groups, known as super political action committees (super PACs). Super PACs are usually used by special interest groups"

Read at www.aljazeera.com