Ag Policy Blog

By Jerry Hagstrom, DTN Political Correspondent, and Chris Clayton, DTN Ag Policy Editor

President Donald Trump may be thrilled that Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., lost his primary on Tuesday, but several leaders of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement promised a voter revolt over his loss.

Agricultural groups could see it differently, but Massie was among a group of Republicans who joined with Democrats to remove provisions from the House version of the farm bill that would protect pesticide companies from legal liability and declare EPA has exclusive authority over pesticide labels.

Massie also got a provision into the bill that would create a pilot program allowing small custom-exempt meat processors to sell meat directly to consumers within the state the facility is located. The provision would make it easier for small farmers and ranchers to market their meat products and give state officials more authority over meat processing within their states.

Massie lost to Ed Gallrein, a candidate backed and endorsed by President Trump, by a 55% to 45% vote on Tuesday night, reflecting again Trump's influence over GOP voters. Trump had lashed out at Massie for months and brought in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to campaign against Massie last weekend.

A vocal firebrand, Massie had pressed for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and also had defied Trump in other areas such as going to war or spending tax dollars on the White House ballroom. Still, Massie had noted he voted with his fellow Republicans more than 90% of the time.

On Truth Social, Trump posted over the weekend, "Tom Massie of Kentucky, the worst and most unreliable Republican Congressman in the history of our Country, is an even bigger insult to our Nation than Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who suffered an unprecedented loss tonight by not even being allowed to run in the Republican Primary. This is the first time such a thing has ever happened to a sitting U.S. Senator! That's what you get by voting to Impeach an innocent man, especially one who made it possible for Cassidy's Senate win. Very disloyal, but Tom Massie, a major Sleazebag, is even worse! Kentucky, get this LOSER out of politics in Tuesday's Election. He is nicknamed Rand Paul Jr., another real "beauty," because of his absolutely terrible voting habits. Vote for Ed Gallrein, a successful Kentucky farmer, and American War Hero, who only ran because he thought that Massie was so disloyal and disrespectful to your President, ME! This is a great man, Central Casting, in fact, who truly deserves to represent the fantastic people of Kentucky, a Commonwealth that I am proud to have won all three times, in record fashion! ED WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! President DONALD J. TRUMP."

Several leaders of the MAHA movement weighed in after Massie's loss, stating they still backed Massie and raising questions about how people in the MAHA movement will vote in November.

"This primary is another example of how pesticide companies influence the public and our government. We may have a long way to go, but we are unstoppable," said Zen Honeycutt of Moms Across America. "Americans of all political parties are sick and tired of our loved ones being sick and tired and dying. And we not only vote, but we will also leave the toxic products of the manufacturers who poured money into defeating Massie on the shelves to rot. Massie for president!"

Vani Hari, known as the Food Babe, said, "Expect a revolt by the people. Thomas Massie's loss just lit a fire under an entire generation that is tired of being ignored, manipulated, and lied to. This election is the reason why we are creating an entire generation that is cynical and disgusted with party politics."

David Murphy, founder of United We Eat and former campaign finance director for HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr's presidential campaign, said, "Massie may have lost tonight, but his race exposed the deep rot of corporate dark money that is destroying American politics. With this tough loss, Massie became America's congressman. No member of Congress has stood so steadfastly for the will of the American people and America's farmers in the past two decades than Thomas Massie. Trump's allies may have won tonight, but they opened the graveyard that Republican candidates will be stepping into during the upcoming midterms."

Kelly Ryerson, known as Glyphosate Girl, also added, "While MAHA is disappointed, we have not heard the last from Thomas Massie. His appeal is nationwide, and he is a true American champion."

TRUMP BACKS PAXTON OVER CORNYN

Trump also continued his move of endorsements this primary season against incumbents by backing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his race to unseat Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. That has drawn some complaints from several Republican senators. The runoff election is May 26.

Cornyn had been trying to gain Trump's endorsement and even proposed naming part of a highway after the president. Still, Trump said Cornyn hadn't shown him enough support, especially early in the 2024 campaign. Cornyn had edged Paxton in the March primary vote 42% to 40.5%.

After being told of Trump's endorsement, Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John Hoeven, R-N.D., said to the New York Times, "Oh, boy. Well, obviously I support Sen. Cornyn."

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said, "It's his decision," as he entered the party luncheon at the Capitol, throwing up a hand in a gesture of exasperation, the Times reported.

"None of us control what the president does," Thune said later. "He made his decision. That doesn't change the way I feel."

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., told Semafor, "It saddened me. I don't know what you can complain about on John Cornyn; he's such a significant part of what we're able to get done here. And a leader: Probably no senator that has done more to support other Republican senators. And I don't know anything that he's done that's offensive in a significant way to the president."

Jerry Hagstrom can be reached at jhagstrom@nationaljournal.com

Follow him on social platform X @hagstromreport

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @ChrisClaytonDTN

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