Amir Hassan, a Navy veteran and former federal law enforcement officer endorsed by President Trump, finished second in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District Republican primary on August 4, losing to Thomas Smith, a retired engineer who had suspended his campaign weeks earlier but remained on the ballot.
Hassan, 40, of Flint received Trump’s endorsement in late June and held a fundraising advantage heading into the race, raising about $727,350 compared to his rivals. Yet he fell short in the primary, with Smith capturing 46 percent of early returns to Hassan’s 30 percent, according to The Detroit News.
Smith, who had dropped out of the contest in mid-July and endorsed rival Al Lemmo, nonetheless won the nomination. In a statement early Wednesday, Smith said he was “humbled and honored that Republicans have chosen me to take the fight to Kristen McDonald Rivet,” the first-term Democratic incumbent who ran unopposed in her primary.
Hassan’s loss marks another setback for Trump’s primary endorsements in 2026, though his overall record remains strong. As of early August, Trump-endorsed candidates had won 220 of 227 primary races—a 97 percent success rate, according to Ballotpedia. The Hill reported that Hassan’s loss adds to “a string of the president’s primary losses this cycle, though his endorsement track record has been largely successful.”
Hassan grew up in Flint, joined the Navy, and spent 11 years as a federal law enforcement officer with the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Transportation before moving back to Michigan to run for Congress. He had the backing of the House Republicans’ campaign arm alongside Trump’s endorsement.
The 8th District race is shaping up as competitive for Republicans seeking to challenge McDonald Rivet in November. Trump won the district by 2 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, yet McDonald Rivet defeated Republican Paul Junge by more than 6.6 percentage points that same year. She has maintained a substantial fundraising advantage, with over $4.2 million in cash on hand as she seeks reelection, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Sources
- The Hill — Trump-backed Hassan’s loss to Smith in Michigan’s 8th District GOP primary; context on Trump’s overall 2026 primary endorsement record.
- The Detroit News — Hassan trailing Smith in early returns; Hassan’s background, fundraising figures, and campaign details; Smith’s statement and endorsement of Lemmo.
- Ballotpedia — Trump’s 2026 primary endorsement success rate (220 of 227 races, 97 percent).
- Federal Election Commission — McDonald Rivet’s 2026 campaign fundraising and cash-on-hand figures.
