DETROIT — In a candid interview with Fox 2 Detroit, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D) and State Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D) expressed frustration over Rep. Haley Stevens’ endorsement of Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers. Both lawmakers said the endorsement threatens to shift attention away from the real‑world problems affecting their constituents.
Dingell urges Stevens to step back
Rep. Dingell said she asked Stevens on Friday night not to attend a planned event with Rep. Jim Clyburn, explaining that the endorsement had become a distraction. Dingell added that Stevens later told her, just after midnight, that rumors of her backing Rogers were false before the endorsement was made public.
“Look, I’m just upset. I’m very concerned. It’s sad, but I don’t want to be distracted anymore,” Dingell said.
McMorrow hears housing and health worries, not campaign drama
Sen. McMorrow reported that calls to her district office have not surged because of the endorsement. Instead, she said residents are calling about rising gas prices, grocery costs, voting‑rights concerns, evictions and health‑care access.
“My district is the most diverse Senate district in the state. It’s northwest Detroit through Birmingham. And no matter where I am, people are concerned about, ‘can I afford to stay in my house?’ The number of calls to my office with people who are facing eviction have gone up. We’re about to see 200,000 Michiganders lose their health‑care. That’s what I’m hearing, not about this,” McMorrow explained.
McMorrow condemns Rogers campaign tactics
McMorrow also accused Rogers’ campaign of exploiting economic frustration to stoke fear about Democratic candidate Abdul El‑Sayed’s religion and background. She described a mailer sent to her home that placed El‑Sayed’s picture next to the Twin Towers and warned voters not to trust him because of his name, race and religion.
“It’s beyond a distraction. They are running the most bigoted, hateful, Islamophobic campaign I’ve ever seen,” McMorrow said.
Local leaders call for focus on real issues
Both Dingell and McMorrow stressed that Michigan voters deserve a conversation centered on affordability, housing stability and health‑care coverage rather than partisan posturing. They urged all candidates to keep the dialogue on policies that directly impact families across the state.
“We need to keep the focus on what matters to everyday Michiganders – jobs, affordable housing, and keeping health‑care accessible,” Dingell added.
As the Senate race heads toward the November ballot, the Democratic leaders say they will continue to highlight the tangible concerns of their constituents while urging voters to look beyond campaign theatrics.
Original reporting: Warren | FOX 2 Detroit — read the source article.
