Candidate who dropped out beats Trump-backed favorite in Michigan GOP House primary
Summary
Tom Smith, a candidate who dropped out of the Michigan GOP House race and stopped fundraising, won the Republican primary against Amir Hassan, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Smith received about 50% of the vote despite suspending his campaign in July, making him the party's nominee for the 8th Congressional District.Key Facts
- Tom Smith suspended his campaign in mid-July and raised only $1,850 total.
- Amir Hassan, a Navy veteran and law enforcement officer, raised around $700,000 and had President Trump's endorsement.
- Smith won about 50% of the vote, beating Hassan by roughly 17 percentage points.
- A third candidate, Al Lemmo, received about 16% of the vote.
- The seat is currently held by Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet and is considered a key Republican target for November.
- Smith is a retired engineer from General Motors and a small business owner from Flint, Michigan.
- The National Republican Campaign Committee quickly congratulated Smith on his win.
- This is the first loss for a Trump-endorsed congressional candidate in the 2026 election cycle.
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