Michigan Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow suspends bid

Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow suspended her campaign for the U.S. Senate on Sunday, July 5, abruptly reshaping the Democratic primary contest just weeks before voters head to the polls. Her exit narrows the field to two major candidates: U.S. Representative Haley Stevens and progressive former Wayne County Health Director Abdul ElSayed.

McMorrow announced her decision in a video posted on social media, thanking supporters and donors but not providing a specific reason for ending her bid. She did not endorse either of her former rivals, instead pledging to support whoever wins the Democratic primary on August 4. In her statement, she emphasized the need for the party to win the Senate seat in November to defeat the expected Republican nominee, former Congressman Mike Rogers.

The departure follows reports of McMorrow struggling to gain momentum in a race where she had initially been competitive. Recent polling showed her falling behind both Stevens and ElSayed, with the latter holding a lead in several surveys. Her campaign, which launched with a national profile bolstered by a viral 2022 state Senate speech and a speaking role at the 2024 Democratic National Convention,...