State Sen. Mallory McMorrow dropped out of the Democratic Senate primary contest in Michigan on Sunday, narrowing the field in a race critical to determining control of the Senate in the fall.
Read more Naomi Osaka overpowers Aryna Sabalenka to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals
The expensive and hard-fought Democratic primary in Michigan had became a proxy for warring factions within the party, with McMorrow occupying a liberal lane between the establishment favorite, Rep. Haley Stevens, and Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health official who has surged in popularity on the party’s left wing.
His strength in polls has fueled concern among establishment Democrats that an El-Sayed nomination would cost them the race with the Republican nominee, former congressman Mike Rogers.
Swing-state Michigan is a must-win contest for Democrats if they hope to flip control of the Senate this fall.
McMorrow’s departure opens a lane to consolidate support behind Stevens — or pave the way for an El-Sayed victory.
McMorrow did not offer a reason for suspending her campaign.
“Let’s elect Democrats up and down the ticket and show the rest of this country what it means to fight like Michigan,” she said in a video posted on X that encouraged her supporters to stick with her and campaign for a better Democratic Party.
“I’m not going anywhere. I hope you’ll join me,” she said.
Both of the remaining Democratic candidates made pitches to McMorrow’s supporters. She did not immediately endorse either, saying that whoever wins the Aug. 4 primary “will have my full support.”
Read more Mitchell Robinson says injury before NBA Finals came from hitting truck amid concern for his brother
Money had flooded the race to bolster Stevens or attack El-Sayed. The biggest spender was the United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with the pro-Israel group AIPAC — investing more than $20 million in television ads with pro-Stevens or anti-El-Sayed content, according to the political tracking firm Ad Impact. Two other PACs spent a combined $15.5 million boosting Stevens.
Stevens said in a statement that she respected McMorrow, calling her “an important voice, both in this race and in the State Senate, for policies that benefit Michigan’s children and families.”
“As we enter the final month of the primary election, I’m excited to continue to make my case to Michiganders why I’m the strongest Democrat to defeat Mike Rogers this November,” Stevens said.
In a reply to McMorrow’s video, El-Sayed drew parallels between her positions against taking any money from corporate PACs and his own stances challenging party bosses.
“The same party insiders you had the courage to challenge have been bullying anyone who opposes their chosen candidate. After spending $30 million to drown you and me out, they’re now spending even more to attack me. It’s everything we are standing up against,” he wrote.
“I welcome your supporters to our movement. … We cannot allow the establishment to decide our nominee for us.”
Read more Folarin Balogun’s 1-game ban suspended by FIFA, allowing US forward to play vs. Belgium
