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By Sam Stevenson and Hannah Parry
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Congressional candidate Amir Hassan, whom President Donald Trump endorsed last month, appears headed for defeat in the Republican primary for Michigan's 8th Congressional District, as he trails rival Thomas J. Smith, who suspended his campaign and endorsed another candidate less than three weeks before Election Day.
Key Takeaways
- Trump-endorsed Amir Hassan lost the GOP primary, according to projected results from Decision Desk and the Associated Press.
- Winner Thomas J. Smith suspended his campaign last month and backed rival candidate Al Lemmo.
- The winner is set to face Democratic Representative Kristen McDonald Rivet in November.
- Michigan's 8th District is viewed as a competitive House battleground.
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With nearly all the votes counted at the time of writing, according to Associated Press estimates, Smith led the three-way primary with 50.4 percent of the vote, compared with Hassan's 33.2 percent and Al Lemmo's 16.4 percent.
Smith held a lead of more than 10,600 votes, larger than the estimated number of ballots left to count, meaning Hassan cannot catch him if the remaining-vote estimate is accurate.
Decision Desk HQ projected Smith as the winner late Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, Trump criticized what he called the "Fake News" for reporting on Hassan's loss when he said he was "28-1" on his other endorsements in Tuesday's Republican primaries, counting all candidates he endorsed who appeared on the ballot.
"I was 28-1 last night on Endorsements, and numerous of them were outliers, but if you studied the Fake News, you would think it was just the opposite, 1-28. All they talked about was the one, and that’s why they call it the FAKE NEWS!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The result is a setback for Hassan, a Flint native and former federal law enforcement officer. In addition to Trump's support, Hassan received backing from the National Republican Congressional Committee as the GOP targets the Democratic-held district in November's midterms, according to The Detroit News.
Newsweek has contacted the campaigns of Smith, Hassan and Lemmo for comment via email.
What did Amir Hassan Say After His Loss?
In a video message posted Wednesday morning, Hassan acknowledged the defeat, telling supporters he “fell short last night” and would not make excuses.
He said the yearlong campaign had strengthened his resolve and deepened his understanding of the district’s challenges. “We see an obstacle and we figure out a way to overcome it. And this is no different,” Hassan said, adding that he was leaning on his faith as he looks ahead.
He congratulated the night’s winners, expressed enthusiasm for the GOP ticket heading into November and urged Republicans that “it’s still time to flip the eighth.”
How the Republican Primary Campaign Unfolded
The outcome is all the more unusual because Smith effectively ended his campaign on July 17, when he announced he was suspending his bid and endorsed Lemmo.
In a July statement shared by the Lemmo campaign, Smith urged Republicans to unite behind Lemmo, saying he was giving the candidate his "complete and total endorsement" and calling on supporters to back him in the primary.
Lemmo responded by saying he was "honored to receive Tom Smith's endorsement and grateful for his dedication to our district and shared conservative principles."
Despite dropping out, Smith remained on the ballot and continued to attract enough support to take a commanding lead.
Following the projected result, Smith said he was "humbled and honored that Republicans have chosen me to take the fight to Kristen McDonald Rivet."
"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 said, according to The Detroit News.
The Battle for Michigan's 8th Takes Shape
Michigan's 8th District is one of the GOP's top pickup opportunities.
The seat is held by Democratic Representative Kristen McDonald Rivet, who first won the role in 2024, despite Trump carrying the district in the presidential race. The Democrat was unopposed in Tuesday's primary.
McDonald Rivet enters the general election with a significant financial advantage, having raised more than $5.6 million and reported roughly $4.25 million cash on hand through mid-July.
By comparison, Hassan had raised about $727,000 and had just over $104,000 remaining in his campaign account.
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Who Is Trump-Backed Amir Hassan?
Hassan served in the Navy and later worked as a federal law enforcement officer with the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Transportation before launching his congressional bid.
The district covers parts of central Michigan, including Flint, Saginaw, Bay City and surrounding communities.
Pointing to his two daughters, who are 18 and 5, Hassan said on his campaign website that "restoring the promise and opportunity of the Saginaw Valley is personal."
Lemmo, an anti-abortion activist and retired mechanical engineer who worked at the U.S. Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center in Warren, had raised questions about Hassan's conservative credentials during the campaign, The Detroit News reported.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Tobias Meyjes and Shakeema Edwards.
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