Incumbent Kristen McDonald Rivet (D), Thomas J. Smith (R), and three other candidates are running in the general election for Michigan's 8th Congressional District on November 3, 2026.

ABC News' Diana Paulsen and Elise Spenner wrote, "The district is one of few nationwide that swung for Trump in 2024 but elected a Democrat down the ballot for the House seat, making it a must-win if the Republican Party wants to preserve its margin in the House."

According to data from The Downballot, President Donald Trump (R) won the district over Kamala Harris (D) 50% to 48% in 2024, and Joe Biden (D) won the district over Trump 50% to 48% in 2020. On the congressional level, McDonald Rivet defeated Paul Junge (R) 51% to 45% in 2024. The district has been represented by Democrats since 1974.

McDonald Rivet is campaigning on her record, and her campaign website says she wants "to help level the playing field for working families. Kristen works with pragmatic leaders from both parties to lower the cost of groceries, housing and prescription drugs, and to invest in child care." McDonald Rivet is also campaigning on a ban on Congressional stock trading and trading on prediction markets, and says she introduced legislation to ban the practice: "No one in government should be using their position to enrich themselves while working people struggle, regardless of Party."

Smith is a retired engineer. He is campaigning on reducing the cost of living. Smith says he wants to "advance President Trump's America First agenda to lower costs for working families and make America affordable again." Smith is also campaigning on government reforms, and his campaign website says that he "will push for term limits, government transparency, and accountability for career politicians."

In the primary, Trump endorsed Amir Hassan (R) over Smith, who withdrew his candidacy prior to August 4. Hassan was one of four Trump-endorsed candidates to lose their primaries. To read more about which candidates Trump endorsed in 2026, click here.

Jim Casha (G), C. Mia Pettus (L), and Kathy Goodwin (Working Class Party) are also running.

The outcome of this race will affect the partisan balance of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 120th Congress. All 435 U.S. House districts are up for election.

Currently, Republicans have a 219-212 majority with four vacancies in the U.S. House. To read more about the U.S. House elections taking place this year, click here.