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Kristen McDonald Rivet

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Republican who withdrew last month beats Trump-backed rival in Michigan

The Guardian · August 5, 2026

Thomas Smith, whose name remained on ballot, beats Republican rivals in primary contest for eighth district

Thomas Smith withdrew from the Republican primary contest for Michigan’s eighth district last month. On Tuesday, he won the nomination.

Unofficial results show Smith with more than 50% of the vote, according to the Associated Press, defeating the man he endorsed, anti-abortion activist Al Lemmo, and the man Donald Trump endorsed, former federal law enforcement officer Amir Hassan.

In a statement on Wednesday, Smith said he was “humbled and honored that Republicans have chosen me to take the fight to Kristen McDonald Rivet”, the Democratic incumbent in the battleground House district.

“I look forward to working with Speaker [Mike] 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,” he added.

In June, Trump endorsed Hassan, an African American…