Trump-Backed Candidate in Michigan Loses to Opponent Who Dropped Out

A Michigan Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump lost his primary election to a candidate who dropped out of the race but remained on the ballot, the Associated Press projected Wednesday.

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Amir Hassan, a former federal law enforcement officer from Flint, Michigan, trailed retired engineer Thomas J. Smith by about 17 percentage points. Smith suspended his campaign to represent Michigan’s 8th Congressional District in July.

The pair were vying to flip the seat held by Democratic incumbent Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet.

Trump-endorsed candidates have won about 97% of their primary elections in 2026, according to a July 10 review by Ballotpedia. Hassan is the only Trump-backed House candidate in Michigan who lost his primary.

Hassan acknowledged his apparent defeat in the early hours on Wednesday.

“The fight has just begun,” Hassan wrote on X. “Service never stops.”

Smith accepted the nomination in a statement early Wednesday to The Detroit News. He said he was “humbled and honored that Republicans have chosen me to take the fight to Kristen McDonald Rivet.”

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“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 added.

The Michigan Secretary of State’s office did not immediately reply to a request for comment on whether Smith can proceed with his nomination despite his decision to officially withdraw from the race.

After dropping out, Smith had backed another candidate, Al Lemmo, who came in last with about 16.4% of the vote.

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McDonald Rivet ran unopposed in her Democratic primary election.