SAGINAW, Mich. (Diya TV) — Republican candidate Thomas Smith scored a surprise victory Tuesday in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District primary, defeating Amir Hassan, who had received President Donald Trump’s endorsement, according to NBC News projections. The upset reshaped the Republican contest in a district the party hopes to win in November.
Smith entered the race with little public attention and very limited campaign funds. Even so, he secured about 50% of the vote with nearly all ballots counted. Hassan finished second with 33%, while Al Lemmo received about 16%.
The result surprised many political observers because Trump had publicly backed Hassan. The district also remains an important target for Republicans after Trump carried it by about two percentage points in the 2024 presidential election. Now, Smith is expected to face Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet in the general election.
Smith’s victory came despite a campaign that appeared to lose momentum weeks before Election Day. In fact, local media reported that he suspended his campaign in mid-July. However, Michigan’s official candidate website did not list him as withdrawn from the race. As a result, his name remained on the ballot.
In one of the race’s most unusual moments, Smith appeared in a Facebook video alongside fellow Republican candidate Al Lemmo. During the video, Smith announced that he was suspending his campaign and giving his full support to Lemmo. Even so, many Republican voters still selected Smith on Election Day.
According to a handwritten filing submitted to the Federal Election Commission, Smith raised only $1,850 through June 30. Most federal candidates submit reports electronically; however, Smith explained that he mailed his paperwork because he experienced problems accessing the FEC’s online filing system.
His campaign activity also slowed well before the primary. The last post on his campaign’s Facebook page appeared on July 15. Despite that limited outreach, Smith still attracted enough support to defeat the better-known, Trump-endorsed candidate.
Hassan entered the race with stronger national attention because of Trump’s endorsement. The military veteran hoped to unite Republican voters and position himself for a competitive race against McDonald Rivet. Instead, he fell well behind Smith after votes were counted across the district.
Smith worked as an engineer at General Motors before entering business. Later, he started a salsa company with one of his sons, who served in the Marine Corps.
Following the election, Smith’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Questions also remain about how he will organize a general election campaign after previously announcing the suspension of his primary effort.
Meanwhile, Republicans now turn their attention to the November contest. Michigan’s 8th Congressional District remains one of the state’s most closely watched races because of its competitive political landscape. Both major parties view the seat as important in the fight for control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet will seek to defend the seat after winning the election last year. Republicans believe the district offers a strong opportunity because of Trump’s narrow victory there in the 2024 presidential race. However, Smith now carries the responsibility of leading the GOP campaign after one of the biggest primary surprises of the election season.
