Withdrawn candidate wins Michigan GOP primary after missing ballot deadline

Thomas Smith won Michigan's 8th District Republican primary on August 4, 2026, with over 50% of the vote — despite withdrawing in June. Michigan law required withdrawal before April 24 to remove names from ballots. Smith's name stayed on, and voters picked him over Trump-endorsed Amir Hassan. Republicans now face November with a nominee who stopped campaigning in a competitive district that backed Trump for president but elected a Democrat to Congress.