Mallory McMorrow Suspends U.S. Senate Campaign, Narrowing Democratic Primary Field

LANSING, Mich. Michigan's race for the U.S. Senate has narrowed after State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, announced she is suspending her campaign, leaving U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and former health director Abdul El-Sayed as the remaining major Democratic candidates. On the Republican side, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers continues his campaign for the seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Sen. Gary Peters.

McMorrow announced her decision Sunday in a post on social media, saying she is ending her campaign but not stepping away from public service. "I want to be very clear about what this announcement is not," McMorrow wrote. "I may be suspending this campaign, but I am not leaving the fight."

McMorrow entered the race earlier this year after gaining national attention for her speeches in the Michigan Senate and her role in helping Democrats win control of the chamber in 2022. During her campaign, she focused on protecting reproductive rights, strengthening democracy, and expanding economic opportunities for Michigan families.

Recent polling suggested the Democratic primary remained highly competitive. A Detroit Regional Chamber poll released in May showed McMorrow running close to Haley Stevens among likely Democratic voters, while Republican Mike Rogers remained competitive in potential general election matchups.

In her announcement, McMorrow reflected on her political career, pointing to victories that she said were made possible through grassroots organizing. She noted that her first election flipped a district previously held by an incumbent and said Democrats later won control of the Michigan Senate for the first time in nearly four decades.

With McMorrow exiting the race, the Democratic primary now becomes a two-candidate contest between Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed. Stevens, who represents Michigan's 11th Congressional District, has emphasized her work on manufacturing, jobs, and economic development. El-Sayed, the former director of the Wayne County Health Department and a previous gubernatorial candidate, has centered his campaign on health care affordability and progressive policy priorities.

The winner of the Democratic primary will advance to the November general election, where Republicans are backing Mike Rogers, a former congressman who is seeking to return to elected office after narrowly losing Michigan's 2024 U.S. Senate race.

The Question: With Mallory McMorrow out of the race, who do you think has the stronger path to winning Michigan's Democratic Senate primary: Haley Stevens or Abdul El-Sayed?