Thomas Massie, Kentucky’s lone Republican in the House, has clashed with President Trump over the Iran strike, a dispute that has turned the state’s gas pumps into a political barometer. In Falmouth, a gallon now costs $4.62, a figure that fuels discontent among voters who blame the war for rising living costs. In the past year, residents feel the squeeze.

Massie’s opposition has made this primary the most expensive congressional race on record, with $30 million poured into advertising. Outside groups linked to Trump, including the Republican Jewish Coalition and United Democracy Project, have spent $16 million targeting him, according to AdImpact data, while Massie’s own campaign has counter‑spend in the same range to keep the primary competitive for voters.

Despite the financial assault, Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL endorsed by Trump, struggles to unseat Massie in a district that splits between Cincinnati and Louisville suburbs. Polls show many Republicans, though skeptical of the war’s outcome, still side with Trump, forcing Massie to appeal to voters who prioritize economic hardship over party loyalty. The race will decide whether dissenting voices can survive in a state.