How racist are GOP voters? This Michigan primary result says it all.
If you want to understand just how racist Republican voters are, look no further than Tuesday night’s result in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District primary.
Both President Donald Trump and the National Republican Congressional Committee had endorsed veteran Amir Hassan to face off against Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet in this seat that Trump carried by 2 points in 2024.
“Amir Hassan is a Flint native, Navy veteran, and former federal law enforcement officer who fought for nation and will fight for Michigan in Congress. Hassan is set to secure victory in November and deliver real representation for hardworking Michiganders,” NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon wrote in a July 15 post that added Hassan to the committee’s “MAGA Majority” program for candidates national Republicans deem as top-tier recruits.
And Trump posted a lengthy endorsement of Hassan on July 28, writing in a Truth Social post: “From bravely fighting for our incredible U.S. Navy, to protecting his Community as a Federal Law Enforcement Officer, Amir has served our Nation with distinction, and will bring that same Fighting Spirit to the U.S. Congress.”
Yet as of Wednesday morning, Hassan badly trailed no-name Republican Thomas J. Smith, who wasn’t even actively campaigning as he had dropped out of the primary in July. As of press time, Smith led Hassan 50% to 33%, with 95% of precincts reporting—a margin so wide it’s unclear why the Associated Press has yet to call the race.
Though he had dropped out, Smith declared victory on Wednesday, saying in a statement to the Detroit News: “I look forward to working with Speaker Johnson and the entire Republican team to expand our House majority and advance President Trump’s America First agenda to lower costs for working families and make America affordable again.”
Why would Smith—who was no longer running and raised virtually no money, leading to this letter he sent to the Federal Elections Commission—defeat Trump-backed Hassan, who had already raised more than $725,000 for his bid?
Look no further than the horrific, Islamophobic bile in the comment section under Trump’s endorsement. Truth Social users decried Trump’s backing of Hassan, simply because Hassan has an Arabic sounding name. (Hassan has said he converted to Christianity.)
“Have you lost your mind, endorsing Muslim candidates,” one Truth Social user replied to Trump’s endorsement post. “What has happened to you? You are not the man that I voted for three times, you have no wisdom whatsoever where Islam is concerned.”
“Do you think there are already too many foreigners in congress???” another commenter replied, even though Hassan is an American who was born in Michigan. “Don’t you think enough is enough at this point????”
“THATS A HARD NO FOR ME. NO MUSLIMS IN OFFICE PERIOD!” yet another Truth Social user replied.
And that, my friends, perfectly encapsulates the moral rot in the Republican base.
Despite the fact that Trump carried this district in 2024, the Cook Political Report rated the race a Lean Democratic contest, while Inside Elections recently moved the race into the Likely Democratic column.
And after Tuesday’s outcome, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee danced on the GOP’s proverbial grave after the party nominated a no-name kook over national Republicans’ pick.
“Donald Trump and the NRCC’s handpicked candidate just lost his primary to a man who quit this race weeks ago to endorse a third person in the primary. This embarrassing upset is the latest proof that Washington Republicans are not ready for November,” DCCC spokesperson Katie Smith said in a statement. “Kristen McDonald Rivet has absolutely no quit. She continues to work tirelessly to fix a broken system, ban politicians from stock trading, and work with both parties to lower costs for Michigan families, which is why they will re-elect her to keep fighting for them.”
We’ll get straight to the point: The financial hardships that Daily Kos is facing this year are tough.
We continue to be paywall-free. We continue to be supported by our readers, not billionaires or corporations. But we need to bring in more revenue. We are leaning on our community more than ever to help make ends meet.
