Thomas Smith wins Republican primary for Michigan's eighth district despite withdrawing from the race earlier in the year
Thomas Smith won the Republican primary for Michigan's eighth district on Tuesday, securing more than 50% of the vote. The victory is considered an upset because Smith had officially withdrawn from the race in mid-July, but his name remained on the ballot due to the late withdrawal. Smith defeated both the candidate he had endorsed, anti-abortion activist Al Lemmo, and the candidate endorsed by President Trump, Amir Hassan. Smith, a retired General Motors engineer, expressed his commitment to unseat the Democratic incumbent, Kristen McDonald Rivet. He stated that he intends to work with the Republican team to advance President Trump's 'America First' agenda. While Hassan, a navy veteran and former federal law enforcement officer, received 33% of the vote, some Republican voters expressed apprehension regarding his conversion from Islam to Christianity. The 8th District is a competitive battleground. In the 2024 presidential election, both President Trump and Kristen McDonald Rivet won the district, though Rivet currently holds the seat as a first-term congresswoman.