Retired engineer Thomas J. “Tom” Smith won the GOP primary for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District on Tuesday, August 5, 2026, with 50.4% of the vote, defeating President Donald Trump’s endorsed candidate, Navy veteran and law enforcement officer Amir Hassan, who received 33.2%, according to the Associated Press with over 95% of ballots counted.

Smith had suspended his campaign on July 17, 2026, endorsing fellow engineer Al Lemmo, who ultimately finished third with 16.4% of the vote. Despite withdrawing, Smith remained on the ballot and carried every county in the district, as reported by The New York Times.

Smith had described his campaign as a "late entry" and disclosed raising only $1,850 through the end of June in a handwritten note to an FEC inspector, as shared on social media by CNN’s Patrick Svitek. In contrast, Hassan’s campaign raised over $727,000 through mid-July, according to FEC records.

President Trump publicly endorsed Hassan on July 28 via Truth Social, stating, “Amir Hassan has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Michigan’s 8th Congressional District — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”

Following the primary results, Smith expressed humility and honor in a statement reported by The Atlantic’s Michael Scherer, saying, “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.”

Sources