Three candidates are facing off in the general election for Kentucky's 4th District U.S. Representative.
Trump-backed Republican Ed Gallrein beat longtime U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, a fellow Republican, in the primary this May.
The race was one of the most-watched in the country and became the most expensive House primary in U.S. history.
But a presidential endorsement and beaucoup bucks aren't stopping challengers.
Democrat Melissa Strange and Libertarian Jeremy Todd will also be on the ballot on Election Day, Nov. 3.
Where is the district?
The fourth congressional district stretches from as far west and south as Nelson County to as far east as Greenup County, the birthplace of Billy Ray Cyrus.
It covers just over 4,800 square miles, mostly along the northern part of the state
that borders Ohio.
Its 21 counties include: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Carter (partial), Gallatin, Grant, Greenup, Harrison, Henry, Kenton, Lewis, Mason, Nelson (partial), Oldham, Owen, Pendleton, Robertson, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble.
Is the district Democrat or Republican?
The district is part of Trump country.
President Donald Trump won with 59% to 63% of the vote in the past three presidential elections. Before that, the district supported former Massachusetts governor and U.S. Senator Mitt Romney with about 60% of the vote.
U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Garrison, has represented the district for around 14 years. Republican Geoff Davis held the seat for just over seven years.
Who is Ed Gallrein?
When President Donald Trump visited Hebron, Kentucky in March, he called Ed Gallrein to the stage to endorse his congressional run against fellow Republican and incumbent Massie.
"Mr. President, I will stand with you and the party to put America first and Kentucky always," Gallrein said. "Tom Massie stands with the ladies of 'The View.' Mr. President, we stand with you."
Gallrein is a former Navy SEAL captain who served about three decades in the military and is a fifth-generation farmer in Shelbyville. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agriculture fromMurray State University.
He first ran for office in 2024 and narrowly lost to incumbent stateSen. Aaron Reed, R-Shelbyville.
After his win against Massie, he thanked Trump for his support and counsel during the race.
"Now my focus," he said, "is advancing the president's and the party's agenda to put America first and Kentucky always."
Who is Melissa Strange?
Melissa Claire Strange is a lifelong Kentuckian who lives in Erlanger with her husband and two sons.
She decided to run for office after the 2024 election because she was tired of seeing chaos and division on every political issue.
With Massie's defeat in May, she said there's a real chance for political change in the district.
"I think that really does change the race because between the people who are very frustrated with how that primary went and then the people who are fed up with the current state of things, I think there are far more persuadable voters out there than there probably would have been if I had been facing Mr. Massie," she said.
Strange has spent 27 years working in the food manufacturing and supply chain business, her website states.
She has a bachelor's degree in International Studies with a focus on economics and political science fromNorthern Kentucky University and a Master's degree in Business Administration fromThomas More University.
Who is Jeremy Todd?
Jeremy Todd is a 39-year-old Libertarian who joined the political fray after Massie lost the primary in May.
"What we just saw happen in that primary cannot be allowed to become a blueprint across the nation," he said about the outside money behind the Gallrein campaign.
His candidacy is about getting the small-government ideas of Libertarianism into the public sphere and offering an alternate choice for conservatives and Massie supporters.
The Alabama native moved to Kentucky, his wife Jamie's home state, with his family more than four years ago. They have a 5-year-old son and live in Independence.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who is running for Kentucky's 4th Congressional District?
