Massie wins in Ky.'s 4th congressional district

Republican upstart Thomas Massie has won the race for Kentucky's 4th congressional district, defeating Democrat Bill Adkins.

Massie, an engineer who is a fervent Tea Party follower, gave a victory speech at about 8:50 p.m. Tuesday.

With all 20 of the district’s counties reporting their tallies, Massie had 62.1 percent of the vote, compared to 34.9 percent for Adkins. Independent David Lewis had 2.9 percent.

Massie’s candidacy was boosted by the endorsement of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul. With Paul’s backing, Massie defeated six other candidates in the Republican primary including GOP stalwarts like State Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington and Boone County Judge-Executive Gary Moore.

In his speech Tuesday night, Massie credited his victory to also appealing to some Democratic and independent voters, not just Republicans.

“We, the people, will take our government back,” Massie told a crowd of supporters. “We’re going to set this country on the right path.”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat or Republican, we know something is broken in Washington,” he added.

Massie will replace five-term Republican congressman Geoff Davis, who abruptly announced his resignation in July because of an unspecified “family health issue.” Massie will fill the remaining two months of Davis’ unexpired term, then begin his own two-year term.

Massie supports allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts. Further, he wants to repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare,” and wants to loosen restrictions on offshore drilling for oil. Like most Tea Partiers, Massie wants to reduce federal spending and limit the size of government.

The 4th congressional district is located in Northern Kentucky and follows along the Ohio River. It includes Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Greenup, Harrison, Henry, Lewis, Mason, Oldham, Owen, Pendleton, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties.