House candidate wins primary despite ending campaign, beating Trump endorsee
Thomas Smith won Michigan's 8th District GOP primary on Tuesday — even though he had suspended his campaign in mid-July. Even more surprisingly: He defeated a Trump-endorsed candidate.
Perhaps even more surprisingly: Smith defeated Amir Hassan, who had received President Trump's endorsement. Mr. Trump even appeared at a campaign rally with Hassan and other Republican candidates in Milford, Michigan, a few days ago.
Smith, who says on his campaign website that he's a salsa entrepreneur and retired General Motors engineer , struggled with fundraising. In a handwritten letter to the FEC on July 12, he disclosed that he had only raised $1,850 through June 30.
He also appeared to struggle with the FEC's technology, adding in a postscript, "I could not file this form electronically because I have had no success logging in and have not been able to get a response from the help desk."
Upon withdrawing from the race, Smith issued a video endorsement for Al Lemmo . Lemmo finished third, behind Hassan.
He has revived his campaign and said in a statement to the Detroit News, "I am humbled and honored that Republicans have chosen me to take the fight to Kristen McDonald Rivet," the incumbent Democratic congresswoman who holds the seat.