There comes a point when a primary election has to end. The voters have spoken. The votes have been counted. Winners and losers have been determined. And if we truly believe in the democratic process, there comes a time when Republicans must put aside personal disappointments, disagreements and political differences and come together for something bigger than ourselves.
Unfortunately, it appears Thomas Massie and Savannah Maddox have not yet reached that point.
Rather than helping unite Republicans ahead of one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime, both continue to revisit a primary election that ended months ago.
Just this month, Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against President Trump’s Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, arguing that Hegseth violated congressional war powers and committed other abuses of his office.
Republicans are certainly entitled to disagree with members of their own party. Principled disagreement is an important part of our political system. But there is also a point when continued opposition begins to make it harder for a party to accomplish the goals its voters elected it to pursue.
Massie himself has provided a striking metaphor for the situation.
In comments circulating publicly, Massie reportedly said of his remaining time in Congress: “When I land this plane, I’m crashing it.”
That is a troubling image for anyone in a position of leadership. A leader should not allow personal disappointment to determine the course of the organization or movement he represents. A leader should recognize that, regardless of political disagreements, his responsibility remains to the people he was elected to serve.
The same principle applies to Savannah Maddox.
In comments recently reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer, Maddox attributed a canceled Republican dinner to the congressional primary, saying the Fourth District congressional seat had been “bought by outsiders.” She also said Republican voters had been “tricked” and that we are now left with a “completely unenergized voting base” with “no enthusiasm at all.”
I understand the frustration that can accompany a difficult primary. Campaigns are intensely personal, and losing a race is never easy. But the voters made their decision.
Ed Gallrein won.
Republican voters made that choice — not Thomas Massie, not Savannah Maddox and not any outside group. We may disagree with the outcome of an election. We may believe another candidate would have been better. But respecting the democratic process means accepting the decision once the votes have been counted.
Continuing to question the legitimacy of that decision months later does not strengthen the Republican Party. It risks dividing it.
And who benefits from that division?
Democrats.
While Republicans are fighting among themselves, Democrats benefit. While Republicans criticize their own nominees, Democrats benefit. And while Republicans discourage their own voters from becoming engaged and enthusiastic about November, Democrats benefit. That should concern every Republican who believes the stakes in this election are as high as we say they are.
Massie and Maddox have spent years presenting themselves as principled conservatives willing to challenge Washington’s political establishment. There is certainly a place in the Republican Party for independent voices and principled disagreement.
But there is also a responsibility that comes with leadership: knowing when it is time to move forward.
If they truly care about Kentucky’s Fourth District, now is the time to demonstrate that commitment. If they care about securing our border, restoring fiscal responsibility, protecting our communities, strengthening our military, defending individual liberty and pushing back against policies increasingly embraced by the left, then there should be no question about what comes next.
Unity.
The primary is over.
We can disagree. We can debate. We can hold our own party accountable. But eventually, leadership requires putting the larger cause ahead of our own political preferences. So I would make a simple appeal — not only to Thomas Massie and Savannah Maddox, but to every Republican elected official and Republican leader across Kentucky: Support the Republican ticket.
All of it.
Stand with Andy Barr.
Stand with Ed Gallrein.
Stand with Republican candidates up and down the ballot.
And then work to elect them.
There should be no sitting this election out because your preferred candidate lost. There should be no rooting for failure simply to demonstrate that you were right. And there should be no effort to undermine candidates whom Republican voters have chosen.
There will be plenty of time after the election to debate the direction of the Republican Party. There will be opportunities to challenge policies, hold elected officials accountable and make the case for different candidates and ideas. But right now, Republicans have an election to win.
Continuing to tear down our own nominees risks strengthening the very political forces that Republicans have spent years trying to defeat.
Republicans have a choice.
We can spend the next few months relitigating yesterday’s battles and holding onto old grievances.
Or we can stand together and work for the country and the Commonwealth we want to leave to our children.
I’m choosing the latter.
I’m standing with Andy Barr. I’m standing with Ed Gallrein. And I’m standing with the Republican ticket.
I hope Thomas Massie and Savannah Maddox will do the same.
The primary is over.
It’s time to respect the voters’ decision, come together and move forward.
Steven L. Frank is former Vice-Mayor of Covington and former Thomas Massie supporter and contributor.