Mallory McMorrow ends bid for Democratic Senate nomination in Michigan

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

July 5, 2026, 2:31 PM EDT


Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow has suspended her campaign for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, setting up a high-stakes, two-way clash between the party’s center and its progressive left flank. “I may be suspending this campaign, but I am not leaving the fight,” McMorrow said Sunday in a statement posted to X and accompanied by a video.

McMorrow did not endorse either of the remaining candidates, Rep. Haley Stevens or former public health official Abdul El-Sayed. The winner of the Aug. 4 primary will face former Rep. Mike Rogers, who is backed by President Donald Trump and unopposed for the Republican nomination. The seat is open this fall because Democratic incumbent Gary Peters is not seeking re-election — and the race for it stands to be a critical battleground for partisan control of the Senate.

“So here’s what we do next: We win this Senate seat and send Mike Rogers back to Florida for good,” McMorrow said, referring to Rogers’ residency after leaving Congress a decade ago and returning to run for office several years ago. “Whoever wins this primary on Aug. 4 will have my full support.”

Stevens has run a campaign tethered tightly to the Democratic establishment, with support from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and other party mainstays in Michigan, including former Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Conversely, El-Sayed, an unsuccessful candidate for governor in 2018, has aligned himself further left, boasting endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/mallory-mcmorrow-ends-bid-democratic-senate-nomination-michigan-rcna353053

[hlthe2b]

1. Will/ Can she return to her House Seat and run for reelection?

[BaronChocula]

12. She's a state senator in MI

But she'd be great in the HOR. Hell, she'd be great in the Senate. She's a great communicator.

[CousinIT]

2. All I know is if we don't get the Senate, Trump appoints 1-2 more Repubican operatives ...

....to the "Supreme" Court.

If we do get the Senate, we block him for 2 years, leaving a seat or two empty.

MITCH MCCONNELL did the same thing, so Democrats better have the spine to do it too.

[rso]

3. McMorrow

Her withdrawal should be of great help to Haley Stevens and harmful to El-Sayed.

[CousinIT]

4. It just needs to be a Democrat. n/t

[lostnfound]

5. Disappointing, i thought she has a strong voice and great potential in the US Senate. Nt

[LisaM]

6. I was disappointed too.

We need a higher percentage of women in office. I really like her, and her ability to communicate in short, pithy statements. It's really too bad.

[rso]

7. Michigan Senate

I think she pulled out because her polling numbers were not good, and realized that by removing herself, it would allow Haley Stevens to beat Al-Sayed in a two person race. Al-Sayed is considered by most democrats as a bit too left to win statewide in Michigan while Haley Stevens is a popular member of the House.

[LisaM]

10. Yeah.

I thought McMorrow was popular too.

[DownriverDem]

8. Not Happy

I will now support Haley Stevens. We have to keep the seat. I do not believe her opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, can win statewide. He runs an ad with Bernie who says at the end "don't pay attention to his name & then he laughs". Not good statewide.

[Festivito]

9. She did not have much presence on the TV commercials.

People here want somebody they've seen around for a while. Haley is in the best position. Cox (R) has extra baggage beyond being a republican. But he has been around for a while.

[democratsruletheday]

11. Abdul all the WAY folks.....he's on the right side of the issues

and isn't bought and paid for by like Stevens. It's a no brainer. He'll wipe the floor with Rogers who is so proud of being a Repuke that he fails to mention that fact in ANY of his ads or on his signs. Rogers has the personality of a 5lb bag of fertilizer.

Get on the Abdul train, it's a winning one and Stevens is just another status quo hum drum candidate. I'm NOT a fan of yard signs in any way but I've seen a ton for Abdul in West Michigan which is traditionally a red area. Not one for Stevens.