State Sen. Mallory McMorrow is expected to end her U.S. Senate campaign on Sunday afternoon, according to people familiar with her decision. Her exit would narrow Michigan's Democratic primary to Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed and leave the race with one fewer candidate before two days of debate attention.
Mallory McMorrow and Sunday
McMorrow informed multiple supporters of her decision on Sunday, then released a video after The News reported it. She did not immediately respond to a text message Sunday afternoon seeking comment. Stevens released a statement shortly after the news broke.
Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed
With McMorrow out, the Democratic primary becomes a two-way race between Stevens and El-Sayed. Michigan Democrats will closely watch whether McMorrow endorses Stevens or El-Sayed, since either choice would give the remaining contenders a fresh claim on part of her support.
McMorrow is a Royal Oak Democrat, and her name will remain on ballots for the Aug. 4 primary because ballots have already been printed and distributed to regular absentee voters. That means voters who already received those ballots will still see her name even if she is no longer actively seeking the nomination.
WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids
The Democratic Senate hopefuls were set to debate on WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids two days after the report. The winner of the August primary will likely face Republican Mike Rogers in the November general election, so McMorrow's exit changes the field before that next public test and before ballots are cast.
The remaining question is whether McMorrow lines up behind Stevens or El-Sayed, and that answer could come as soon as she chooses to make her next move public. For voters, the immediate reality is simpler: McMorrow may be off the active campaign trail, but her name stays in front of absentee voters on the Aug. 4 primary ballot.
