Kentucky's May 17 Republican primary puts Rep. Thomas Massie on the defensive against a Trump-backed challenger. The MIT-educated libertarian, who drives a Tesla with a "Friends of Coal" license plate and holds 30 patents, has spent his career bucking party orthodoxy — and that defiance now costs him politically as President Trump lines up against him.

Massie's fight lands in a state where Andy Beshear runs as a rare Democratic governor of a deep-red state, relying on moderate charm and relentless boosterism. Beshear's 2023 reelection included bragging about a Buc-ee's opening as economic development. Mitch McConnell, the ultimate Washington insider, is stepping down after decades, leaving a power vacuum in a state that has long produced colorful nonconformists who punch above their weight nationally.

Rand Paul has edged toward the MAGA wing, even supporting a $1 billion White House ballroom project. Kentucky's 120 counties and border-state history have bred dynasties and oddballs for centuries. With McConnell departing and Beshear's reelection confirming the state's continued relevance, Tuesday's results will shape whether Kentucky's congressional delegation tilts MAGA or stays libertarian.