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National Republicans are rallying around a complete political unknown who stunned the party by winning a Michigan congressional primary over President Trump’s hand-picked candidate.
Thomas Smith, a retired GM engineer who sells salsa that retails at Flint farmer’s markets, spent virtually nothing yet convincingly beat Trump-backed Amir Hassan — a US Navy vet and former federal law enforcement officer who raised $727,000.
“He’s just as shocked as everyone was on election night,” a Smith campaign consultant told The Post. “He understands that this was not expected, but he also understands that people have spoken.”
Smith won 50.4% of the vote to Hassan’s 33%, while Republican activist Al Lemmo took 16%.
The shocking result came despite Smith having virtually no campaign operation and telling voters weeks before Tuesday’s primary that he was no longer running.
Republican leaders are rallying behind Smith’s race against Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet. Republicans “plan to go on offense” to support Smith, a GOP operative told The Post.
The result was especially stunning because Hassan had spent $623,000 through July, while Smith had barely spent anything.
Smith had dropped out of the race several weeks ago and endorsed another candidate. But when voters went to the polls Tuesday, they overwhelmingly chose him anyway.
Republicans are already trying to turn the outcome into an opportunity.
Trump carried the district by just two percentage points in 2024, and the Cook Political Report rates the November race “Lean Democrat.” McDonald Rivet is a member of the centrist New Democrat Coalition.
“This campaign has had aggressive conversations with everyone in the Republican hierarchy in both Michigan in Washington … If we hit all the benchmarks that they set for us, they fully expect to invest in us,” said the consultant.
The race had initially been built around Hassan, who was recruited with help from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, a source claimed.
“Duffy convinced him to run. He was excited to do it,” said a source familiar with the campaign, describing Hassan as a “good dude.” Another source denied any “urging” by Duffy.
Hassan, “had a lot of flaws” and “never really connected well with the grassroots,” said the operative.
His name “definitely could be a factor” in the shock loss to Smith, said a GOP operative who noted that voters on both sides of the aisle were disgusted by the rhetoric of the Democratic Senate primary winner, anti-Israel radical Abdul El-Sayed, who dominated the headlines.
Flint-native Hassan said during the campaign he had converted from Islam to Christianity.
Trump doesn’t need to fear an adversary if Smith climbs out of obscurity to win in November. “He is one of the most MAGA candidates in Michigan this cycle. No one’s more loyal to the president than Thomas Smith,” said the consultant.
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