Kentucky Libertarians Nominate Jeremy Todd After Thomas Massie Primary Loss

The Libertarian Party of Kentucky has nominated Jeremy Todd for the state’s 4th Congressional District, moving quickly to place a candidate in the race after U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie lost the Republican primary earlier this week.

The party’s State Executive Committee scheduled and held a special nominating convention Wednesday night, one day after Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein defeated Massie in the Republican primary. Todd will seek the seat Massie has held for 14 years, provided he completes Kentucky’s ballot access process before the filing deadline.

Gallrein defeated Massie on Tuesday, 55 percent to 45 percent. Massie’s defeat landed heavily among some libertarians, especially those who viewed him as one of the last major figures in the Republican Party’s liberty wing, which previously included figures like former U.S. Reps. Justin Amash of Michigan and Ron Paul of Texas.

As a member of Congress, Massie built a reputation for his willingness to break with party leadership on issues such as spending, surveillance, and civil liberties. He also became one of the most visible Republican critics of President Donald Trump, clashing with him over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, U.S. military actions abroad, and aid to Israel.

The primary drew significant national attention for its cost, with spending by the candidates and outside groups reaching around $32 million in what has been described as the most expensive U.S. House primary in history.

Todd, who has called himself a salesperson, is a member of the Libertarian Party of Kentucky’s Membership Review Committee. His campaign had not launched a public website as of this article, though the state party said it expects to release more information about him in the near future.

Todd also previously sought a position on the Libertarian National Committee, running on a platform that called for greater party transparency, more regular communication with members, outreach to “politically homeless” groups, and a stronger focus on measurable outcomes.

In remarks online, Todd presented his nomination as a direct response to Massie’s defeat. When asked on X whether Kentucky Libertarians would have had a candidate ready if Massie had won the Republican primary, Todd wrote that the party would “Never run against Massie or his crew,” adding that his decision “is vengeance.”

Under Kentucky law, a U.S. House candidate petitioning for ballot access must submit 400 valid signatures from registered voters in the district and pay a $500 filing fee. The filing deadline for the November ballot is June 2, giving Todd only a narrow window to complete the process.