Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, announced Sunday she is suspending her campaign for Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary. McMorrow launched her campaign last year after Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., declared he would not seek reelection.
In a post to X, McMorrow thanked her supporters and campaign staff while announcing her decision, but did not state the reason behind the suspension.
“Today, I’m announcing that I am suspending my campaign for United States Senate,” McMorrow wrote. “I’m doing it with a deep, deep sense of gratitude. For our thousands of volunteers, for everyone who donated what you could — building a campaign with zero corporate PAC dollars. For my staff, who built this team up from nothing. I thank you.”
McMorrow faced a tight race against Abdul El-Sayed, former Wayne County health director, and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich. El-Sayed has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., while Stevens has been endorsed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
McMorrow wrote she will support the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, following Michigan’s Aug. 4 primary election. McMorrow also expressed support for other Democratic candidates on the ballot.
“We win this Senate seat and send Mike Rogers back to Florida for good,” McMorrow wrote. “Whoever wins this primary on August 4th will have my full support. Then, let’s elect Jocelyn Benson as our next Governor. Let’s flip the State House, and expand our majority in the State Senate.”
In a video posted to Instagram following the announcement, El-Sayed thanked McMorrow for her efforts, and asked her supporters to join his campaign amid the growing involvement from political action groups — including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee — in backing Stevens.
“(It was) never a question, despite our policy differences, whether or not Senator McMorrow would show up to fight for my daughters and hers,” El-Sayed said. “But the question to all of us now is this: Are we willing to allow AIPAC, big corporations, Chuck Schumer, to show up and rig our democracy, to choose who our Democratic nominee is gonna be?”
In a post to Facebook, Stevens praised McMorrow’s campaign efforts and work in the Michigan State Senate. Stevens wrote she aims to continue working alongside McMorrow for the benefit of the state.
“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. “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.”
Following McMorrow’s announcement, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced her endorsement of Stevens in an Instagram post Sunday.
“Representative Haley Stevens is a seasoned fighter for Michigan who knows how to work in a difficult environment to get essential policies across the finish line,” Nessel wrote. “She has the proven ability to work with members in DC and in our local communities to create laws that enhance the lives of everyday Michiganders.”
Daily News Editor Gia Verma can be reached at giaverma@umich.edu.
