Republican Thomas Smith, a retired engineer, has won the GOP primary for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, defeating Amir Hassan, a former federal law enforcement officer and President Trump’s pick for the race.

Smith’s victory means he will challenge first-term Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet in the upcoming general election. According to Decision Desk HQ, Rivet is projected to lose her GOP primary to a candidate who had dropped out of the race, highlighting the unusual dynamics of this contest.

The primary results were reported on Wednesday, August 5th, 2026.

Sources