State Senator Mallory McMorrow from Michigan has ended her campaign for the U.S. Senate. She sought to position herself between a left-wing candidate and one backed by the party establishment. However, her campaign struggled with low polling numbers and insufficient fundraising compared to her main rivals.
In a social media post on Sunday, McMorrow expressed gratitude to her supporters while announcing her decision. This leaves the Democratic primary to be contested between Representative Haley Stevens and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. Stevens has the backing of notable figures like Senator Chuck Schumer and pro-Israel groups. Meanwhile, El-Sayed is endorsed by progressive leaders such as Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Despite not endorsing a candidate yet, McMorrow committed to supporting the eventual primary winner. Her campaign emphasized that voters need not choose between Stevens, who has deep ties to the Democratic establishment, and El-Sayed, who some see as too left-wing to win general elections. El-Sayed previously lost the 2018 gubernatorial primary to Gretchen Whitmer.
The Republican nominee is expected to be former Representative Mike Rogers. He narrowly lost the Senate race in 2024. The current Democratic seat is being vacated by Senator Gary Peters, who is not seeking re-election. The primary takes place on August 4th.
Retaining Michigan’s Senate seat is crucial for Democrats hoping to control the Senate after the midterm elections. They must defend current seats and win at least four from Republicans to secure a majority.
McMorrow’s criticisms of El-Sayed for campaigning with controversial streamer Hasan Piker impacted her support. Her comments ended up strengthening El-Sayed’s progressive stance. Meanwhile, pro-Stevens advertising significantly increased, further complicating her campaign.
Reid J. Epstein covers campaigns and elections from Washington for The Times.
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