Thomas Smith Wins Michigan GOP Primary Despite Suspending Campaign

Thomas Smith won Michigan's 8th District GOP primary on Tuesday, securing just over 50% of the vote. This victory came despite Smith suspending his campaign in mid-July and endorsing Al Lemmo, who finished third.

Smith defeated Amir Hassan, a Navy veteran with a background in federal law enforcement, who had received President Trump's endorsement. According to CBS News, Mr. Trump even appeared at a campaign rally with Hassan just days before the primary. Smith, a retired General Motors engineer and salsa entrepreneur, struggled with fundraising, raising only $1,850 through June 30.

In a statement to the Detroit News, Smith expressed gratitude for the support, saying he is 'humbled and honored that Republicans have chosen me to take the fight to Kristen McDonald Rivet,' the incumbent Democratic congresswoman. The 8th District covers Flint and parts of Central Michigan and is one of 13 House seats where voters elected a Democrat but favored Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

Hassan, who described himself as 'disappointed not defeated' on X, is the first Trump-endorsed House candidate to lose a primary this year. According to HuffPost, Hassan faced pushback from some members of Trump's MAGA base due to suspicions about his religious background despite reaffirming his commitment to Christ. Smith will now face McDonald Rivet in November.

All eyes were on Michigan's primary on Tuesday, particularly the race to win the Democratic ticket for November's U.S. Senate seat. What was supposed to be a standard primary race between Congresswoman Haley Stevens and Doctor Abdul El-Sayed caught the attention of many, from local leaders to President Trump. With El-Sayed as the projected winner of the Democratic primary, he will face off against Republican Mike Rogers in the general election.