Rep. Thomas Massie may have lost his congressional seat, but the Kentucky Republican is already signaling he has no plans to disappear from politics anytime soon.
Just days after suffering a bruising primary defeat to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein, Massie revealed he has already filed paperwork that could keep the door open for another run in 2028.
“I filed with FEC for the 2028 House race. This allows me to raise funds to continue my political operations supporting my position as a current office holder and as a potential candidate for federal office,” Massie wrote Monday in a post on X.
“I haven’t made a final decision about which office to seek, if I run,” he added.
The filing comes after Massie lost Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District Republican primary in what became one of the most closely watched and expensive House races in the country.
President Donald Trump had aggressively targeted Massie during the campaign, repeatedly blasting the congressman and endorsing Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL officer.
The two men had increasingly clashed over a number of issues, including foreign policy and Massie’s push for the release of files related to deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Massie had sounded far less interested in a political future just weeks earlier.
Speaking at a University of Louisville College Republicans event in April, Massie declared: “If I lose on May 19, I am not doing any more government ever.”
Now, the tone appears to have shifted.
“I’m keeping every option open, and there’s still an undisclosed paid social media campaign to rewrite history and diminish the platform the Epstein class gave me when they spent tens of millions of dollars to buy the seat,” Massie said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“I won’t be going away silently.”
Massie also made clear that he is not ruling out a larger stage.
During an appearance on Meet the Press on Sunday, moderator Kristen Welker asked whether he was considering a 2028 presidential run.
“I will not rule out anything. And right now I’m not gonna rule in anything,” Massie said.
“I think I will stay engaged in some way or shape. Maybe it’s from the outside. I’ve been exposing what’s going on Washington D.C. for years,” he added.
The comments come after supporters unexpectedly began chanting “2028” and “President!” during Massie’s concession speech last week, fueling speculation that some backers see the congressman as more than just a defeated House member.
Whether that turns into a White House bid, another congressional run, or something else entirely remains unclear.
But one thing appears increasingly certain: Massie may have lost his seat — but he is making it clear he does not view himself as finished.
