Washington — Over the weekend, State Senator Mallory McMorrow declared the suspension of her Senate campaign, thereby reducing the number of Democratic contenders ahead of the fiercely contested August primary, a race crucial for influencing the upper chamber’s power dynamics.
“While I am putting a pause on this campaign, my commitment to the cause remains unwavering,” McMorrow stated in her announcement on X, sharing her resolve with her supporters.
McMorrow had been an active participant in the primary race following Sen. Gary Peters’ decision not to run for re-election in the pivotal Great Lakes State. She was competing against Rep. Haley Stevens and former Michigan health official Abdul El-Sayed for the Democratic nod, with the race becoming increasingly contentious due to internal party disagreements in recent times.
In this divisive race, Stevens has garnered support from national Democratic leaders, while El-Sayed has gained traction with progressives. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez threw her weight behind El-Sayed last week, marking this election as a crucial showdown in the ongoing debate over the Democratic Party’s future direction, following similar upset victories in New York and Colorado.
In the wake of McMorrow’s exit, both El-Sayed and Stevens released statements commending her contributions and dedication to the campaign.
“Throughout this campaign, you showed what it looks like to fight back against a politics that rigs the system against too many of us,” El-Sayed wrote, in part, in a reply to the video where McMorrow announced her decision. “While we have policy disagreements, I never questioned whether you would fight for a better America for my daughters and yours.”
“Anyone who raises their hand to serve the people of Michigan and puts forward thoughtful ideas for how they would lead earns my respect,” Stevens wrote, in part, adding that she “looks forward to work with (McMorrow) in the future to build a stronger Michigan for everyone.”
The primary is set for Aug. 4. In her post, McMorrow pledged to support whomever wins the Democratic nomination, who will take on former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers in the general election. Rogers narrowly lost his bid for Michigan’s other Senate seat to Sen. Elissa Slotkin in the last election.
Republicans currently have a majority in the Senate, with 53 members. Democrats are hoping to win control of the chamber this fall. But doing so would mean flipping four seats and defending seats in a handful of other races.
The Senate seat in Michigan, a state which has flipped between supporting Democrats and Republican presidents in recent elections, is considered among the most vulnerable for Democrats this cycle. The Cook Political Report rates Michigan as a toss-up.