Withdrawn candidate wins Michigan Republican primary after missing ballot-removal deadline

Thomas Smith won Michigan's 8th District Republican primary on August 4, 2026, with over 50% of the vote — despite withdrawing from the race in June. Michigan law requires candidates to withdraw before April 24 to remove their names from ballots. Smith's name stayed on, and voters chose him over Trump-endorsed Amir Hassan. The GOP now faces November with a nominee who had ceased campaigning in a competitive district that voted Trump for president but elected a Democrat to Congress.