Mallory McMorrow drops out of Democratic primary for Michigan Senate seat

Mallory McMorrow drops out of Democratic primary for Michigan Senate seat

Michigan State Sen. Mallory McMorrow announced Sunday, July 5, 2026, that she is suspending her campaign for the U.S. Senate. Her exit transforms the Democratic primary for the seat currently held by retiring Sen. Gary Peters into a two-way contest between U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and former Wayne County and Detroit health director Abdul El-Sayed.

McMorrow, of Royal Oak, told the Detroit Free Press that she had hoped voters would support a candidate who merged the policy background of Stevens with the progressivism of El-Sayed. She stated that this path was largely closed by considerable outside spending, which included tens of millions of dollars benefiting Stevens.

In a video posted to X, McMorrow thanked her supporters, campaign staff, her husband, Ray Wert, and their 5-year-old daughter, Noa. She did not provide a specific reason for ending her campaign in the video but pledged her full support to whichever Democrat wins the primary.

"Whoever wins this primary on August 4th will have my full support,"

Mallory McMorrow, Michigan State Senator, via X

Despite her withdrawal, McMorrow's name will remain on the ballot for the Aug. 4 primary because ballots have already been printed and distributed to absentee voters. Voters who have already submitted absentee ballots may contact local clerks to spoil them and request new ones until 5 p.m. On Friday, July 24.

A Divided Primary

The race now pits the moderate Stevens, who is backed by the Democratic establishment and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, against El-Sayed, a progressive epidemiologist from Ann Arbor. El-Sayed has the endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He has made Medicare for All a central part of his platform, called for the abolition of ICE, and characterized Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide.

Stevens, of Birmingham, has been supported by millions in super PAC spending, including from the American-Israel Public Affairs Group (AIPAC). This support has been a point of controversy among Democrats skeptical of U.S. Support for Israel's war against Hamas. Stevens has described the outside help she received as being in line with legal standards.

The departure follows reports from the Wall Street Journal in late June that Sen. Peters had told associates McMorrow should consider leaving the race so Democrats could coalesce around Stevens to defeat El-Sayed. This pressure comes as recent polling averages showed McMorrow dropping back into single digits, while El-Sayed and Stevens moved to the front.

Reaction and Implications

Abdul El-Sayed praised McMorrow for having the courage to challenge a rigged political system and invited her supporters to join his movement.

"The same party insiders she had the courage to challenge have been bullying anyone who opposes their chosen candidate. After spending $30 million to drown Senator McMorrow and me out, they're now spending even more to attack me,"

Abdul El-Sayed, Senate Candidate, via Statement

Rep. Stevens called McMorrow an important voice and expressed respect for her service. Stevens argued she remains the strongest candidate to defeat the Republican nominee in November, citing goals to lower costs, protect manufacturing jobs, and stand up to Trump's abuses of power.

Republicans characterized the primary as chaotic. Greg Manz, a Michigan GOP senior communications adviser, stated the primary had shifted from a three-car pileup to a head-on collision. Samantha Cantrell, NRSC Regional Press Secretary, claimed that Bernie Sanders' radical socialist flank is taking over the party, leaving Chuck Schumer to combat El-Sayed's momentum.

The Road to November

The eventual Democratic nominee will face former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake. Rogers is seeking the seat for a second consecutive cycle after losing to Democrat Elissa Slotkin in 2024 by 19,006 votes, or about three-tenths of 1 percentage point.

The seat is considered a top Republican target and a must-hold for Democrats, who currently trail the GOP in the Senate with a 53-47 split. Nonpartisan political handicappers rate the Michigan race as a toss-up. McMorrow leaves the race having raised more than $8.6 million by the end of the March reporting period.

Democrats must now decide their nominee on Aug. 4, leading toward the general election on Nov. 3.