Retired engineer Thomas J. “Tom” Smith won the GOP primary for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District on Tuesday, August 5, 2026, securing 50.4% of the vote. This outcome came despite Smith having dropped out of the race on July 17 and endorsing fellow engineer Al Lemmo, who finished a distant third with 16.4% of the vote.

Smith carried every county in the district, according to The New York Times. He sent a handwritten note to a Federal Election Commission (FEC) inspector in July stating his campaign was a late entry and had raised only $1,850 through the end of June.

His main opponent, Navy veteran and law enforcement officer Amir Hassan, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, received 33.2% of the vote. Hassan’s campaign had raised more than $727,000 through mid-July, according to the FEC. Trump announced his endorsement of Hassan on July 28 via Truth Social, calling it his "Great Honor to endorse Amir Hassan, who is running to represent the fantastic people of Michigan’s 8th Congressional District!"

Before the Associated Press called the primary for him, Smith stated, “I am humbled and honored. I look forward to working with Speaker Johnson and the entire Republican team to expand our House majority and advance President Trump’s America First agenda to lower costs for working families and make America affordable again.”

Smith had announced his suspension of the campaign in a 15-second video posted to Lemmo’s campaign website but remained on the ballot.

Sources