Army Veteran Bouchard Defeats Trump's Pick in Michigan Primary
Thomas J. Smith won Michigan's 8th District Republican primary Tuesday despite having suspended his campaign in mid-July. Trump-endorsed Amir Hassan, a Navy veteran, lost by more than 17 percentage points.
- 50.4% went to Smith; Hassan took 33.2%; third candidate Al Lemmo took 16.4%.
- Smith's campaign reported raising $1,850 through June 30, per an FEC handwritten filing.
- Hassan's campaign raised more than $727,000 through mid-July.
- Trump carried the 8th District by 2 points in the 2024 presidential election.
Why it matters: Michigan's 8th District — covering Flint, Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City — is considered a competitive seat. The general election will test whether Smith, a political unknown with minimal resources, can mount a credible challenge.
- McDonald Rivet defeated Republican Paul Junge by about 6 points in 2024 and held $4.25 million in cash as of mid-July.
- Under Michigan law, a candidate who suspends a campaign but wins the primary nomination may still run in the general election.
How 21 sources split on this story
Where they split: Left-leaning outlets frame the result as a rebuke of Trump's endorsement power; right-leaning outlets focus on the unusual mechanics of a suspended candidate winning and the November competitive stakes.
Left coverage, 9 sources: The left frames the outcome as an embarrassing failure for Trump's endorsement operation, suggesting his kingmaker status is overstated.
NBC News7hCandidate who dropped out beats Trump’s pick in a battleground GOP House primary
MSNBC2hTrump’s most humiliating primary loss yet wasn’t just about race
ABC News2hCandidate who dropped out beats Trump-backed favorite in Michigan GOP House primaryJezJezebel58mMichigan MAGA Got Confused, Voted for the Whitest-Sounding Person on the Ballot
Mother Jones56mTrump-endorsed candidate loses Michigan primary to man who dropped out
Raw Story7h'Make this guy a star': Retiree who 'humiliated' Trump charms with scribbled note to FEC
Talking Points Memo7hThere’s a Bizarre Situation Unfolding in a Michigan Congressional Race
The Independent7hTrump-endorsed candidate loses to opponent who had dropped out of Michigan raceRight coverage, 10 sources: The right treats the result as a bizarre procedural anomaly and quickly pivots to the November matchup against McDonald Rivet as the real story.
The Daily Caller7hTrump-Backed Amir Hassan Loses To Guy Who Dropped Out Of Race
Fox News8hRepublican who reportedly dropped out defeats Trump's pick in key swing-district primary
The Blaze3hRepublican primary candidate suspended campaign weeks ago — and then defeated Trump-backed candidate
BizPac Review8hGuy who dropped out of race blows out Trump-backed Republican Amir Hassan in swing seat primary
Just the News2hTrump-backed House candidate loses Michigan primary to a guy who suspended his campaign
The Daily Wire23hTrump-Backed Candidate Loses Primary To Guy Who Quit The Race A Month Ago
The Washington Times4hMichigan retiree who dropped out of race scores upset of Trump-endorsed candidate in primary
The Western Journal10hCandidate Who Dropped Out of Race Wins GOP House Primary Over Trump-Endorsed Opponent
Washington Examiner56mRepublicans embrace candidate who dropped out after shocking win over Trump-backed Amir Hassan
WND4h‘Who told Trump to endorse this guy?’ Republican who dropped out of race crushes president’s pick with Muslim-sounding name * WorldNetDaily * by Joe KovacsWhat’s next: Smith must decide whether to actively campaign after previously backing Lemmo.
- Smith said he will work with Speaker Johnson to "expand our House majority."
- Why did Smith initially suspend his campaign, and will he mount a fully funded general-election effort?
- Does the result signal weakening influence of Trump endorsements in competitive swing districts?