Thomas Massie, the Kentucky Republican congressman locked in a heated primary battle with a Trump-backed challenger, is fundraising from anti-war, Muslim-American activists, and leftist-aligned PACs.
President Trump has called Massie, long a thorn in his side, the “worst Republican Congressman in history”, throwing the weight of his MAGA political machine behind his opponent to oust him. The Kentucky Republican has emerged as a vocal critic of the administration’s handling of the Epstein files, Iran, and the president’s signature “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”
In October 2025, Trump recruited and endorsed Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein to challenge Massie.
Since then, the money has poured in, making Tuesday’s primary election the most expensive in U.S. history. Politico reported that more than $32 million has been spent on the contest, including a wave of outside spending from deep-pocketed third-party groups against Massie, including AIPAC, the Republican Jewish Coalition, and others.
Tuesday’s election may be the clearest test yet of whether Massie’s political durability can withstand the force of Trump’s endorsement. In the campaign’s final stretch, Massie has leaned heavily into the role of outside and third-party influence to explain polling slippage.
“After months of beating around the bush, one reporter finally writes the true story of my race, and when asked, the lobbyists brag about it,” Massie said of a Politico story highlighting Pro-Israel spending. “A coalition of Israel’s lobbyists and donors is spending tens of millions of dollars in a blatant attempt to buy a KY congressional seat.”
At the same time, more than 90% of Massie’s individual donors come from outside Kentucky, with the largest shares from California, Texas, and Florida, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks money in U.S. politics. Only 5% of his individual contributions come from Kentucky.
The Congressman also appears to be accepting money from billionaires, anti-war progressives, Muslim-American activists, and left-aligned PACs with foreign ties well beyond Kentucky.
The Kentucky Lantern reported that Kentucky First PAC, one of the main pro-Massie outside groups, ran a $1 million advertising blitz funded in large part by a contribution traceable to a group backed by billionaire financier Jeff Yass.
Yass, 67, is the co-founder of the Philadelphia-based trading firm Susquehanna International Group. Bloomberg reports he is worth $84.6 billion, making him the 22nd wealthiest person in the world. Yass also holds a minority stake in ByteDance, the Beijing-based Chinese technology company that owns a minority stake in TikTok.
In October 2025, Yass contributed millions to a super PAC called Protect Freedom Political Action Committee, which was created in 2017 by political advisors to Senator Rand Paul, according to The Kentucky Lantern. The group’s cash dwindled to $114,000 until Yass infused $7.5 million on Oct. 20 for Massie’s campaign.
A Texas-based businessman, raised in a Palestinian refugee camp, has also made notable political donations to Rep. Thomas Massie. Sam Mahrouq, a Muslim-American, gave $7,000 to Massie last year — the maximum allowed per election cycle, according to The Free Press.
His wife, Rania, and their children, Raneem and Zaid Mahrouq, individually donated $7,000 to Massie’s campaign as well. An additional $7,000 contribution to Massie came from Mohammad Mahrouq. Federal Election Commission filings indicate he shares the same address as the rest of the family and is employed by Ikon Technologies, a software company founded and owned by Mahrouq, according to The Free Press.
Mahrouq has also donated to groups backing Senator Chris Van Hollen, James Talarico, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Anti-Zionist political groups, according to FEC filings.
The financial records highlight the broad left-wing network backing Massie’s reelection campaign. That has manifested on the media front during the home stretch as well, with Massie accepting backing from left-wing figures like Cenk Uygur.
Integrity Political Action Committee (IPAC), which recently partnered with a chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) to target and undermine ICE, has also backed Massie.
“This coalition has united to advocate for immigrant rights and challenge what they describe as violations of constitutional rights by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. government,” the PAC says, according to its website.
An August 2025 social media post shows Massie posing alongside IPAC chairman Rafed Aljoboury. One week earlier, Aljoboury donated $500 to Massie’s campaign, according to The Free Press, citing campaign finance disclosures.
Aljoboury is also the Chairman of a licensed non-governmental organization (NGO) that claims to provide “saving assistance to civilians affected by conflict, with a primary focus on Gaza.”
“IPAC stands with Rep. ThomasMassie and support his re-election campaign. It was a pleasure to meet him and we are looking forward to work with him as a true America First candidate,” the group said in the social media post. “ Rep. Massie against AIPAC influence on our demonic and foreign policies.”
IPAC stands with @RepThomasMassie and support his re-election campaign. It was a pleasure to meet him and we are looking forward to work with him as a true America First candidate.
Rep. Massie against AIPAC influence on our demonic and foreign policies. pic.twitter.com/l1LyX5OSTq— Integrity Political Action Committee (@IPAC7_ORG) August 17, 2025
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