Surprise win sends Thomas J. Smith to Michigan’s 8th District general election
Heading into the Aug. 4 primary, the expected results of the 8th Congressional District Republican primary seemed predictable to many.
Candidate Amir Hassan, a U.S. Navy veteran from Flint, had won endorsements from a slew of key Republicans, including President Donald Trump himself. He was chosen for a National Republican Congressional Committee program aimed at expanding Republicans’ House majority and had been making regular appearances at local Republican events.
But instead, voters decisively chose Thomas J. Smith, a retired General Motors engineer, U.S. Army veteran and co-founder of Jar Head Salsa, who on July 16 had suspended his campaign and endorsed Al Lemmo, a Dearborn Republican.
Smith won the primary with 50.44% of the vote, according to unofficial election results. Hassan got 33.19% of the vote and Lemmo received 16.37% of the vote.
Even Smith, who raised little money for his primary campaign, admitted he was surprised by the election’s results.
“I was humbled and, yes, s…