Trump beat him in May. Now he’s running for President in 2028

A group led by Libertarian Party activists and anti-war conservatives wants outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie to run for president in 2028 as the nominee of a rebranded Libertarian Party. Massie hasn’t said whether he’s interested. Here’s the plan, who’s behind it, and the hurdles.

By Quinn BallardPublished

As of November 8, 2026.

A group of Libertarian Party activists and conservatives who have broken with President Trump is trying to recruit outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to run for president in 2028 as the nominee of a rebranded Libertarian Party. Organizers say a third-party campaign built on opposition to the Iran war could draw enough votes to influence the outcome. Massie has not responded publicly and did not respond to Axios’ requests for comment.

Why Massie

Massie, who has represented Kentucky’s 4th District since 2012, became one of Trump’s most prominent Republican critics. He opposed the Iran war, pushed for the release of the Epstein files, and is forcing a House vote this week on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

He lost his May primary by about 10 points to Trump-backed Ed Gallrein, in what became the most expensive House primary on record. His campaign spent nearly $9 million, and pro-Massie groups spent millions more, giving him a large national donor network.

The plan

  • A rebranded party. Michael Heise, founder of the Libertarian Party’s Mises Caucus, launched an organization called the American Liberty Party on October 27, paid for by the caucus’s Mises PAC. Podcaster Bret Weinstein, a lead organizer, has described the goal as a “friendly takeover” of the Libertarian Party and a rebrand under that name, with a “Draft Massie” campaign as one of its first projects.
  • Using existing infrastructure. The Libertarian Party already has ballot access in many states. Its presidential nominee is chosen by delegates at a national convention, so a well-organized group can shape the outcome. The Mises Caucus took control of the party’s national leadership in 2022.
  • The message. Organizers want to claim the “America First” label, focused mainly on ending the Iran war and cutting military aid to Israel. They hope to draw supporters of figures like Tucker Carlson, former Trump official Joe Kent and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, along with disaffected “Make America Healthy Again” activists and populist voters on the left and right.
  • The goal. Weinstein said on his podcast that taking 5 to 15% of the vote from a major party would force that party to listen. Organizers also hope to reach 5% nationally, which would make the party’s next presidential nominee eligible for some federal campaign funding.

Larry Sharpe, a longtime Libertarian candidate and operative, told Axios he has spoken with Massie several times about a possible run.

The hurdles

  • Massie hasn’t said yes. Heise has said his first preference was for Massie to run for president as a Republican, with a third-party bid as a backup.
  • Third parties rarely reach 5%. The Libertarian Party’s best presidential result was Gary Johnson’s 3.3% in 2016. Its 2024 nominee, Chase Oliver, received about 0.4%. No third-party presidential candidate has topped 5% since Ross Perot in 1996.
  • Some Libertarians oppose the plan. Critics within the party have described the effort as a hostile takeover by an outside faction. The party has split before over the Mises Caucus’s leadership, with some state affiliates breaking away after 2022.
  • Funding is limited by major-party standards. The Mises PAC raised about $394,000 in the 2024 cycle, Axios reported.

Who’s funding it

According to Axios’ review of FEC records, past donors to the Mises PAC include Kimbal and Christina Musk, Elon Musk’s brother and sister-in-law; Abigail Rockefeller, a former donor to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign; and Patricia Duggan, a donor to the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. and a longtime Libertarian Party contributor. Heise declined to comment to Axios.

What to watch

  • Whether Massie responds after he leaves Congress in January.
  • Libertarian Party delegate fights ahead of its 2028 convention.
  • The 2028 Republican field, and whether an anti-war candidate emerges within the GOP instead.

Sources

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