BREAKING: Trump’s endorsed candidate loses a primary to a rival who quit the race weeks ago
Trump loves to brag that his endorsement is political gold. On Tuesday, his candidate lost to a man who had already dropped out of the race.
The president has spent this cycle posting graphics on Truth Social boasting “President Trump endorsements 100%.” Every congressional candidate he backed had won their primary, with the only two exceptions being men who quit mid-scandal before voters ever weighed in. That streak just shattered in Michigan’s 8th District.
Amir Hassan, the candidate Trump handed a “Complete and Total Endorsement” in July, did not just lose. He got buried. Thomas J. Smith, a retired General Motors engineer, took 50.4 percent of the vote to Hassan’s 33.2 percent. Here is the part that stings: Smith had suspended his own campaign back on July 17, telling voters he was stepping aside to back someone else. His name stayed on the ballot anyway. And he still crushed Trump’s guy.
Smith said he was “humbled and honored that Republicans have chosen me.” He could have added surprised, since he was not even running anymore.
It gets worse for Trump. His own supporters spent the race flooding Hassan’s endorsement post with religious hate, falsely claiming he is Muslim even though Hassan’s own campaign site says he is a Christian. The president’s base turned on the president’s pick.
Hassan is now the first Trump-endorsed candidate to actually lose a congressional primary at the ballot box. And he is not alone in the wreckage. Trump-backed candidates have stumbled in Georgia, Iowa, and beyond, with the president quietly hedging his bets in other races to protect his precious record.
Now the seat tilts toward Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet, who ran unopposed, banked millions, and won this district by nearly seven points last time.
The kingmaker just got beaten by a man who was not even in the game.