Thomas Smith won Michigan's 8th District GOP primary with just over 50% of the vote, even after suspending his campaign. He defeated Amir Hassan, a Navy veteran backed by President Trump, who had an endorsement and appeared at a rally in Milford. Smith ran no ads or finance reports.

Smith says he's a salsa entrepreneur and a retired General Motors engineer. He raised only 1,850 through June, struggled with FEC tech, and couldn't file electronically. He filed a handwritten letter to the FEC on July 12.

After withdrawing, Smith endorsed Al Lemmo, who finished third. Smith revived his campaign, stating he's humbled and honored to take on incumbent Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet. Thewich 8th District covers Flint and Central Michigan and is one of 13 House seats where voters elected a Democrat but favored Trump.

Hassan is disappointed, the only Trump‑endorsed House candidate to lose a primary this cycle. Trump noted he had 28 wins and one loss, but didn't name Hassan.