Republican nominee in Michigan's 8th District linked to extremist social-media posts
Republican congressional nominee Thomas Smith in Michigan's 8th District has a history of reposting extremist and conspiratorial content, prompting scrutiny ahead of his race against incumbent Kristen McDonald Rivet.
GOP voters in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District chose retired General Motors engineer Thomas Smith as their nominee, rejecting the Trump-endorsed Amir Hassan. Investigators uncovered about 13,000 archived social-media posts that Smith had deleted, showing a pattern of far-right commentary such as labeling politicians as traitors, spreading anti-Muslim and birther conspiracy narratives, and amplifying messages that called for the death penalty or deportation of Somali immigrants.
Notable reposts cited include a February 2025 message urging Trump to “take our country back” and questioning the punishment for treason, as well as earlier posts branding Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Rep. Maggie Goodlander as traitors. Smith now faces incumbent Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet in the general election, and the Cook Political Report has shifted the district’s outlook from “lean Democratic” to “likely Democratic,” citing the potential impact of his controversial online history.
Why it matters
The nominee’s extremist online record could sway voters in a swing district and affect the balance of House seats.
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