McMorrow suspends Michigan Senate campaign, leaving Stevens and El-Sayed in two-way primary

McMorrow's exit

Mallory McMorrow, a Michigan state senator, suspended her campaign for the U.S. Senate on July 5, one month before the August 4 primary. She did not endorse either remaining candidate but pledged her full support to the eventual nominee. Her departure turns a three-way race into a head-to-head between the party's establishment and progressive wings.

I may be suspending this campaign, but I am not leaving the fight. When regular people get in the fight, things can change.

The remaining candidates

Haley Stevens, a congresswoman, is the moderate choice backed by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and groups like AIPAC. Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health official, has surged on the left with endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He supports Medicare for All and would be the first Muslim U.S. senator.

Israel exists. The question is whether or not we want a politics where our money is sent over to Israel to do genocide and apartheid, instead of investing in our own kids.

Factional proxy war

The primary has become a proxy for the Democratic Party's internal struggle. Stevens argues her approach is best suited to defeat Republican Mike Rogers in November. El-Sayed and his backers say the energy lies with the progressive movement. McMorrow had occupied a liberal lane between them, with support from Senators Elizabeth Warren, Chris Murphy, and Martin Heinrich.

Spending and polling

Outside groups spent roughly $32 million across five organizations to boost Stevens, including $10 million in paid media before McMorrow aired her first ad. Polls over the winter and spring showed a competitive three-way split, but by late June McMorrow's support had evaporated, leaving her in last place.

We cannot allow the establishment to decide our nominee for us.

What comes next

Michigan's primary is August 4. The winner will face former Representative Mike Rogers, the presumed Republican nominee, in a state Democrats likely need to retake the Senate majority. The race is being watched nationally as a test of whether the party's left wing can again defeat an establishment-backed candidate.