Candidate · November 3, 2026
Thomas J. Smith
On the ballot for U.S. House · Michigan's 8th District
- raised through Oct 14, 2026
- $561K
- cash on hand
- $85K
- issues with public statements
- 6
- outside spending for or against
- $197K
§1On the ballot
Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.
| Office | U.S. House · Michigan's 8th District1 |
|---|---|
| Party on the ballot | Republican Party1 |
| Status | Challenger |
| Also on the ballot |
|
§2Who they are
Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Tom Smith graduated from Kettering University, where he studied Industrial Administration, and later earned an MBA from Michigan State University.2 He worked at General Motors, rising through the ranks at Buick City Assembly in Flint, and retired from GM as an engineer.2 In 2009 he launched Jar Head Salsa, a small business.2,
Why they say they're running
His campaign website says he is running for the U.S. House because the country needs strong conservative leadership that protects constitutional freedoms, supports working families, secures the borders and restores accountability in Washington.2,
Websites and accounts
- Campaign websitetomsmithformi.com3,
4 - Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=615908502098613
§3What they've said on the issues
Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.
Immigration
His campaign website says he will support finishing the border wall, restoring deportations and ending catch-and-release.3,
- Build walls or fencing along much more of the border
- Add barriers only in selected places, relying mainly on technology and agents
- Build no new barriers and spend the money on other border security
Taxes and Budget
His campaign website says he will fight to cut wasteful spending and wasteful programs and to balance the budget.3,
Energy and Climate
His campaign website says he supports American energy independence through oil, gas and nuclear power and opposes green mandates, which it says destroy jobs.5
Elections and Government Reform
His campaign website says he will press for term limits, more open government and accountability for career politicians.5
§4Money
Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left. Outside groups that spend on their own, without coordinating with the campaign, report that too.
Reported to the Federal Election Commission for the 2025–2026 election cycle, through October 14, 2026.6
| Raised | $561,097 |
|---|---|
| Spent | $476,031 |
| Cash on hand | $85,066 |
| Debts owed by the campaign | $7,600 |
Where the money came from
Outside spending
Groups spending independently reported $182,851 supporting and $13,850 opposing Thomas J. Smith this cycle, primary and general combined, in the 24- and 48-hour reports the law requires for larger expenditures, filed through October 21, 2026.7
| Group | Supporting | Opposing |
|---|---|---|
| America PAC | $92,103 | — |
| NO GOING BACK PAC INC. | $90,748 | — |
| For Michigan Action Fund | — | $11,250 |
| Neighbor Voices | — | $2,600 |
Smaller expenditures that appear only on a group's regular monthly or quarterly report aren't in these totals, so the full amounts can be somewhat higher. When a group amends a report, only its latest version is counted.