Donald Trump’s endorsed candidate for a critical battleground U.S. House seat suffered a stunning defeat in Tuesday night’s Michigan primary, losing to a little-known Republican who had suspended his own campaign weeks earlier and endorsed another candidate.
Business owner Thomas Smith unexpectedly defeated Navy veteran Amir Hassan in the Republican primary for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, despite ending his campaign in July, filing virtually no campaign finance activity and receiving little public attention.
With more than 95% of ballots counted, Smith captured roughly 50% of the vote, while Hassan finished with about 33%. A third Republican candidate, Al Lemmo, received approximately 16%.
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The upset came just days after Trump headlined a rally in Michigan where he publicly endorsed Hassan, who had also secured backing from House Speaker Mike Johnson and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.
Speaking Wednesday in Las Vegas, Trump acknowledged the surprising outcome, saying Hassan was “a good person” but lacked name recognition among local voters.
“But I said, ‘I don’t care. I’m doing it anyway,'” Trump said. “But nobody knew who the person was.”
The result marks one of the rare defeats for a Trump-endorsed congressional candidate during the 2026 primary season.
Smith, who had suspended his campaign and thrown his support behind Lemmo in July, said Wednesday he would now revive his campaign to challenge Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet in November.
“I am humbled and honored that Republicans have chosen me to take the fight to Kristen McDonald Rivet,” Smith said in a statement.
Michigan’s 8th Congressional District is expected to be one of the nation’s most competitive House races this fall. The district backed Trump in the 2024 presidential election while simultaneously electing McDonald Rivet to Congress, making it a top Republican pickup target.
Unconventional campaign
Smith’s victory came despite running an unusually low-profile campaign.
According to Federal Election Commission filings, he reported raising just $1,850 and aired no television advertising.
In a handwritten letter submitted to the FEC in July, Smith explained he had been unable to electronically file campaign reports because he could not access the agency’s filing system.
Meanwhile, Lemmo’s campaign focused much of its effort on attacking Hassan.
Lemmo acknowledged Wednesday that campaign advertisements questioned Hassan’s political background after Hassan disclosed he had previously leaned Democratic and did not vote in the 2024 election.
Lemmo also acknowledged that some campaign messaging attempted to capitalize on Hassan’s Muslim background, even though Hassan has said he is a Christian who has studied multiple religions.
One advertisement featured an image of a woman wearing a niqab, while another highlighted articles referring to Hassan as a “proud Muslim.”
Lemmo said he ultimately regretted those advertisements.
“I really didn’t like that because I live in a community with a lot of Muslims,” Lemmo told The New York Times. “They’re really nice.”
He also speculated that Smith’s more familiar-sounding name may have resonated with voters.
Republicans quickly unite
Despite the unexpected outcome, national Republicans quickly rallied behind Smith.
National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Zach Bannon said the party is now focused on defeating McDonald Rivet.
“McDonald Rivet has failed Michiganders and they will send her packing this fall when they elect common-sense conservative Thomas Smith,” Bannon said.
Smith wasted little time stepping into the role of nominee, appearing Wednesday at a Republican unity luncheon alongside former Rep. Mike Rogers, the GOP nominee for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat.
Democrats seized on the result as evidence of Republican disarray.
“Donald Trump and the N.R.C.C.’s handpicked candidate just lost his primary to a man who quit this race weeks ago to endorse a third person in the primary,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman Katie Smith said. “This embarrassing upset is the latest proof that Washington Republicans are not ready for November.”
Hassan addressed supporters Wednesday in a Facebook video, accepting responsibility for the defeat.
“I know what God has in store for me is something greater, even if I can’t see it right now and I don’t understand,” he said.
The November contest between Smith and McDonald Rivet is expected to be closely watched as Republicans attempt to expand their House majority in one of the country’s most competitive congressional districts.
