State Senator Mallory McMorrow Exits U.S. Senate Race Amid Poor Polling and Fundraising

Mallory McMorrow, a Democratic state senator from Michigan, announced the suspension of her U.S. Senate campaign on Sunday. Her campaign struggled to compete with her main rivals in polling and fundraising. This departure narrows Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary to a contest between Representative Haley Stevens and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.

In a social media statement, McMorrow expressed gratitude to her volunteers and donors. She did not endorse any candidate but stated she would back the eventual primary winner. McMorrow sought to appeal to voters seeking an alternative to Stevens, a congresswoman with strong party establishment ties, and El-Sayed, a progressive candidate with left-leaning views that concern some Democrats.

El-Sayed has endorsements from prominent figures like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, while Stevens has support from Senator Chuck Schumer and pro-Israel groups. The primary will determine who runs for the seat vacated by Senator Gary Peters, a retiring Democrat. Former Representative Mike Rogers is the likely Republican nominee.

Holding this Senate seat is crucial for Democrats aiming to gain control of the chamber in November’s elections. The party needs to retain all of its current seats and win additional Republican-held seats to secure a majority.

McMorrow’s campaign faced setbacks after criticizing El-Sayed for associating with Hasan Piker, a controversial figure who has defended Hamas. Her comments inadvertently strengthened El-Sayed’s image as the outspoken progressive choice and failed to gain traction among moderates, despite extensive support for Stevens from groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.