Mallory McMorrow, the majority whip of the Michigan state Senate, has dropped out of the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan. This development leaves Rep. Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed, a candidate from the Bernie Sanders wing of the party, as the remaining contenders in the race.
Primary Implications
McMorrow’s exit from the primary, scheduled for early August, reflects not only her own campaign struggles but also the emphasis among many Democrats to prevent El-Sayed from winning the nomination. There are concerns that El-Sayed, with his progressive stance, might be a weaker candidate against GOP former Rep. Mike Rogers in the general election.
Republicans are aiming to flip the seat, currently held by retiring Sen. Gary Peters, to bolster their efforts to retain the majority in the Senate. Few Democrats believe they can take the majority without holding onto this open seat.
McMorrow initially gained national attention with a viral speech in 2022 addressing accusations of grooming by a Republican colleague. She was also a speaker at the 2024 Democratic convention in Chicago. Despite entering the race with significant attention and support, including endorsements from national figures like Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, McMorrow’s campaign faced challenges in building support in a splintered field.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
