Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow announced Sunday she is suspending her campaign for the U.S. Senate, narrowing the Democratic primary race to a contest between Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens. McMorrow's decision follows a significant drop in her polling numbers in recent weeks.
"I never planned on politics. After the 2016 election, I felt lost. I picked up my phone and typed five words into the search bar: ‘How to run for office,'" McMorrow said in a video message. She added, "I learned the only thing that has ever really changed this country: ordinary people who love something enough to fight for it. I love this country. I love Michigan."
McMorrow, who gained national attention for her work in the Michigan state legislature, particularly on issues of abortion access and LGBTQ rights, had been considered a rising figure within the Democratic Party. She went viral in 2022 for a public rebuke of a Republican colleague who had questioned her stance on LGBTQ issues.
However, her Senate campaign struggled to maintain momentum. Polling data indicated a division of her support, with moderates leaning towards Stevens and progressives towards El-Sayed, leaving her campaign with a narrower path forward. According to the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate, El-Sayed held 35% support, Stevens had 29.7%, and McMorrow had 7.7%.
The outcome of the Michigan Senate race is considered critical for Democrats aiming to regain control of the Senate. The seat is currently held by Democrats, and losing it could complicate their efforts to flip at least four other seats needed to achieve a majority in the upper chamber.
Both El-Sayed and Stevens are polling closely against Republican candidate Mike Rogers, each holding a 0.5 percentage point edge in the aggregate. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has publicly backed Stevens in the race.
Stevens acknowledged McMorrow's departure, stating, "Mallory McMorrow has been an important voice, both in this race and in the State Senate, for policies that benefit Michigan’s children and families, and I look forward to working with her in the future to build a stronger Michigan for everyone."
El-Sayed extended an invitation to McMorrow's supporters, saying, "I welcome her supporters to our movement to stand up against money in politics, to put money back in pockets, and pass Medicare for All. We cannot allow the establishment to decide our nominee for us."
McMorrow's previous comments about rural Americans and their perceived isolation resurfaced during the campaign. In 2017, she agreed with a post suggesting that "much of white working class America has isolated itself from the rest of the country" and that "many rural Americans have isolated themselves from the rest of the country." She later characterized the tweet as not "eloquent."