Trump-Backed Amir Hassan Loses To Guy Who Dropped Out Of Race

A little-known candidate soundly defeated President Donald Trump’s pick for a swing House seat Tuesday despite dropping out of the race one month earlier and barely campaigning.

Retired engineer Thomas J. “Tom” Smith had 50.4% of the vote compared to Trump-backed Navy veteran and law enforcement officer Amir Hassan’s 33.2%,, the Associated Press reported with more than 95% of ballots counted in the GOP primary for Michigan’s Eighth Congressional District.

Smith had exited the race on July 17 — despite remaining on the ballot — and threw his support behind fellow engineer Al Lemmo, according to Newsweek.

Lemmo ended up coming in a distant third place with just 16.4% of the vote, per the AP.

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