AIPAC targets Thomas Massie for 2026. He says they’re committing political malpractice
Rep. Thomas Massie is calling a super PAC advertising campaign blistering him as an “anti-Israel radical” a comical waste of political expenditures.
“I’m laughing because it has the same effect as lighting it on fire and burning it,” the Northern Kentucky Republican said in an interview Monday. “To run ads two years before an election is campaign malpractice.”
“What it could do is up my name ID statewide,” Massie added, “but two years from now nobody’s going to remember what the ad was about.”
The United Democracy Project, the political action committee arm of the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee, has unfurled a $328,675 television campaign assailing Massie as hostile to Israel, citing a handful of votes in April.
“Republicans are trying to help Israel,” the ad says. “But one Republican is standing in the way. It’s Kentucky’s Tom Massie.”
But UDP says their ad flight is not meant to impact his House primary election next Tuesday, where he’s expected to romp to victory over Eric Deters, but rather undermine his appeal to voters who may see him on a statewide ballot one day.
“Who knows what office Tom Massie will run for in the future? But we want to make sure every voter in the state knows how bad he is on Israel,” said Patrick Dorton, a UDP spokesman.
UDP’s spending plan shows they’ve purchased airtime in the Bowling Green, Lexington, Louisville, Paducah and Evansville, Ind., markets – but not in his Northern Kentucky district covered by Cincinnati, according to Medium Buying, an ad tracking firm.
The ad is scheduled to run on Fox News, SEC Net and ESPN 2 through May 26.
“There’s going to be a lot of people watching these ads scratching their heads saying, ‘Who is Thomas Massie?’” the congressman said. “And they’re not going to remember this in two years if I were to run statewide.”
In the interview, Massie told the Herald-Leader he’s not taking any option off the table for a future statewide campaign, but wouldn’t spend a dollar on a Senate contest that’s two years away.
“It’s funny that some outside super PAC is more convinced I’m going to run statewide than I am,” he said.
With speculation rampant that U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell won’t seek reelection in 2026, Massie is among the Kentucky Republicans who may be eyeing the seat.
Massie said he’s been able to raise $101,000 over four days online from more than 1,200 supporters coming to his defense.
AIPAC’s bombardment also began just a day after he voted to vacate Mike Johnson’s speakership, in part for allowing a vote on a foreign aid package that included money for Israel. Massie voted against that package and opposed a resolution meant to federally define antisemitism as a burst of unrest over the war in Gaza envelops college campuses.
Massie said he is not antisemitic and supports Israel, and his votes are in line with his libertarian worldview.
“I have 12 years of setting expectations and explaining my votes with constituents,” he said. “I vote against sanctions, I vote against limitations on free speech and I vote against foreign aid.
“And I vote against wars, and the problem is, AIPAC is for all of those things.”
Massie has suggested AIPAC be required to register as a foreign agent since it advocates for a foreign country, but AIPAC is run by American citizens who are devoted to promoting the U.S.-Israel relationship and preserving Israel’s existence.
Former President Bill Clinton once called AIPAC “better than anyone else lobbying” in Washington and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich described it as “the most effective general-interest group…across the entire planet.”
But Massie said he’s heard from congressional allies who support AIPAC who believe they’ve made a mistake in targeting him.
“I double down. I don’t wake up in the morning saying, ‘How can I tick off AIPAC?’” Massie said. “If they punch me, I’m punching back.”
Austin Horn contributed reporting.
This story was originally published May 14, 2024 at 10:31 AM.
