During a forum at the University of Louisville, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said he would consider running for Governor of Kentucky if he wins his GOP congressional primary this year.
During the Q&A portion of the forum, Massie was asked if he would run for governor if he lost this year’s election.
“He said a loss would mean returning to the farm, but he might consider running for governor over the Senate or presidency if he won,” The Louisville Cardinal wrote.
“I’ve got to get to May 19 before I speculate about any of that. But if I’m looking at jobs and saying which would be the best job to have, probably governor,” Massie said.
🚨Report: Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie is considering running for Governor of Kentucky in 2027 if he wins his primary in May pic.twitter.com/UUoBqrfxqC
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) April 8, 2026
More from The Louisville Cardinal:
He also addressed public education, touching on his bill to terminate the Department of Education. Massie emphasized he does not want to decrease public education funding, as he attended K-12 at public schools. Instead, he would rather keep the money in the state so officials can decide where it goes.
U of L College Republicans President Dyllan Tipton said the forum drew 125 attendees, many of them students. Faculty, Kentucky Senator Lindsey Tichenor and former Congressman John Yarmuth were also in attendance.
Tipton acknowledged that attendees were not just Republicans, but also independents and Democrats, calling the cross-ideological turnout positive.
“We need more events that bring Democrats, Republicans, and everyone else together for healthy dialogue and debate,” he said. “Congressman Massie definitely fosters that vision, as he has worked across the aisle on many issues and is willing to stand up for his principles even when they go against his own party.”
One poll in the GOP primary for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District had Massie leading by approximately 10 percent.
New: First independent poll of the KY-04 GOP primary has Massie up ~10, but short of a majority, against Trump-endorsed Ed Gallrein.
Quantus Insights pegged the race at: Massie 47.4%, Gallrein 36.8%.
They’re rated a “B/C” pollster by @NateSilver538 https://t.co/HWxlE9KECv
— Austin Horn (@_AustinHorn) April 9, 2026
Lexington Herald Leader noted:
The first independent, public poll of GOP voters in Kentucky’s much-anticipated 4th Congressional District primary, released Wednesday, shows Rep. Thomas Massie with a double-digit lead, but not quite a majority, over a candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Quantus Insights conducted a survey of more than 400 likely Republican voters April 6-7 and found that, out of 437 likely voters, 47.4% would vote for Massie if the election were held today, compared to 36.8% who responded they’d vote for Ed Gallrein, the Shelby County veteran who has touted Trump’s endorsement in his campaign.