Trump-backed candidate Amir Hassan falls short in Michigan GOP primary as suspended rival secures victory

Thomas J. Smith secured the Republican nomination after remaining on the ballot despite suspending his campaign less than three weeks earlier.

A surprising result unfolded in Michigan’s closely watched 8th Congressional District Republican primary after Thomas J. Smith, who suspended his campaign less than three weeks before Election Day, emerged as the projected winner over Amir Hassan, despite Hassan receiving an endorsement from President Donald Trump.

With nearly all ballots counted, The Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ projected Smith as the GOP nominee, giving him an insurmountable lead over Hassan and third-place finisher Al Lemmo.

Newsweek’s reported that Smith captured just over half of the vote while Hassan, who had Trump’s backing and support from the National Republican Congressional Committee, finished well behind.

The outcome is unusual because Smith announced on July 17 that he was suspending his campaign and publicly endorsed Lemmo, urging Republican voters to rally behind him. However, because Smith’s name remained on the ballot, many voters still selected him, ultimately handing him the nomination.

Following the projected victory, The Detroit News reported that Smith thanked Republican voters for their support and said he looks forward to challenging Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet in November. He also pledged to work with House Republicans to advance what he described as President Trump’s America First agenda.

Hassan entered the race with significant institutional support. A Flint native and former federal law enforcement officer, he received Trump’s endorsement in July and was viewed as the preferred Republican candidate in one of the party’s top pickup opportunities for the 2026 midterm elections. As detailed in Newsweek’s coverage, Hassan also benefited from backing by the National Republican Congressional Committee.

The general election now shifts to a matchup between Smith and McDonald Rivet, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

According to campaign finance figures cited by Newsweek, McDonald Rivet enters the fall campaign with a substantial fundraising advantage, reporting more than $4.25 million in cash on hand through mid-July.

Michigan’s 8th District, which includes Flint, Saginaw, Bay City and surrounding communities, is expected to remain one of the nation’s most competitive House battlegrounds.

While Republicans view the district as a realistic pickup opportunity, Tuesday’s primary demonstrated that voter behavior can produce unexpected outcomes, even when a candidate has ended their campaign and another carries a high-profile presidential endorsement.