In his television show “Yellowstone,” creator/writer Taylor Sheridan delivers some sage advice via his character Rip:
“Life is plenty hard. You don’t need to help it.”
That observation has been a lifelong, key component of my entire less government philosophy. More government only makes life harder. So let’s have less of it, please.
Unfortunately, DC’s denizens seem incapable of helping themselves. Or us.
Behold two glittering examples of DC going out of its way to make life harder. For no good reason at all.
These are electoral examples. Two Republican primary races for 2026 office – one for the US House, one for Michigan Governor. Two races that absolutely shouldn’t be happening. But it’s DC, so….
First, the House race.
Thomas Massie is a Congressman. He’s represented Kentucky’s 4th district since November 2012. KY-4 is a somewhat safe Republican seat (2025: 51.5% R – 34.9% D).
Massie has a maintained a sterling conservative voting record (lifetime ACU: 92.26%). Because he’s a sterling conservative guy. And that has gotten him into trouble with DC and President Donald Trump.
To name but some of Massie’s “transgressions”:
Trump resents the fact that Massie repeatedly votes against sending to Ukraine hundreds of billions of dollars we don’t have.
Trump resents the fact that Massie wouldn’t vote for March’s idiotic, over-spending Continuing Resolution (CR).
Trump resents the fact that Massie wouldn’t vote for July’s idiotic Big Beautiful Bill (BBB). (Which unfortunately passed anyway – without Massie’s vote.) Which is projected to add $3.4 trillion to the national debt.
This is Massie defying Trump – for excellent and ideologically consistent reasons: He wants DC to stop spending trillions of dollars it doesn’t have.
This is Massie being WAY more conservative than Trump – over and over and over again.
Which is not DC enough for Trump. So Trump has spent the last several months trying to find a primary opponent to take on Massie.
Last week, Trump finally stumbled upon someone willing to do his dirty work. Trump announced Ed Gallrein would run against Massie. Oops: I mean Gallrein announced he’d run against Massie.
There is literally NO reason this primary should be happening. This is DC jamming up Kentucky – out of spite.
Massie’s district certainly seems to like him – having elected and reelected him for a decade-plus.
He faced two primary challengers in 2024 – and won with 75.9% of the vote.
And he just posted his largest fundraising number of his career: $768,000 between July and September. Seemingly in open defiance of Trump’s anti-Massie machinations.
It seems like KY-04 is thrilled with Massie. So DC: Stop making life harder for the Kentuckians in KY-04.
Second, the Michigan Governor race.
Swing-state Michigan has a gubernatorial election in 2026. A jump ball election means there will be LOTS of time, money and effort spent by both Parties – in both the primaries and the general.
The way to minimize that spending – and the damage? Is to not have successfully elected officials try to reach beyond their grasp for higher office.
Behold John James. He’s a current Republican Congressman – representing Michigan’s 10th district. The tenth is an exceedingly swing district (Cook: R+3). Which James has successfully won twice (48.8% in 2022 and 51.4% in 2024).
As the increase from 2022 to 2024 reminds, incumbency has its advantages. James has now proven himself a known and successful commodity in MI-10.
And with Congressional Republicans’ razor-thin House majority at risk? James would be doing everyone a great service by standing pat – and running for a third term.
But instead? James has decided to jump into the Republican primary for Michigan governor. (Along with about a half dozen other people.)
In doing so, James is putting his crucial swing House seat at even greater risk.
And is doing so to take another run at statewide office – at which he has already twice been unsuccessful.
Because in case you forgot: Prior to successfully winning MI-10? James twice ran for a Michigan Senate seat. And lost – twice.
He lost in 2018 to Democrat Debbie Stabenow 52.3% to 45.8%. He got closer in 2020, losing to Democrat Gary Peters 49.9% to 48.2%.
2020 was certainly a close race. In a year when HIGHLY questionable electoral things were happening.
But it seems like Michigan already has a LOT of Republican gubernatorial primary candidates. What Michigan doesn’t have – now that James has entered that scrum? Is a proven incumbent for MI-10.
It is DC James – needlessly making life harder for the people of Michigan. To run statewide – which he has already twice proven incapable of successfully doing.
James should do everyone a favor: Make everyone’s life easier – and stay right where he is.
And win a third term in a tough swing district – to help protect the House GOP majority.
When it comes to Massie and James?
The proper reverse-cliche is:
Hey DC: Don’t just do something – stand there.