Michigan’s Senate Race Heats Up as McMorrow Enters the Fray
State Senator Mallory McMorrow, recognized as an emerging figure within the Democratic Party, has formally declared her candidacy for Michigan’s vacant U.S. Senate seat. Her announcement on Wednesday marks her as the first prominent entrant in what is anticipated to be a fiercely contested and costly race in 2026.
At 38, McMorrow is charting a course distinct from national Democrats in a state that swung for Trump, emphasizing the need for fresh leadership to counteract President Donald Trump’s federal reforms and articulate a message that resonates with Trump voters.
In a conversation with The Associated Press, McMorrow expressed her dissatisfaction with the current Democratic leadership, stating, “I have been so frustrated seeing really a lack of a plan and a lack of a response coming from our current party leadership.” She criticized their reliance on what she termed “gimmicks” and specifically called out Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for his reluctant support of a Republican spending bill.
Desiring a more proactive approach, McMorrow remarked, “It’s so lacking the urgency of this moment.” Her rising profile includes a role at the Democratic National Convention last year.
With the Michigan Senate seat seen as pivotal for both parties, Democrats are keen to retain it, while Republicans aim to bolster their 53-47 Senate majority. McMorrow became a likely Democratic contender after Senator Peters announced his retirement in January. U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel are also potential candidates. Meanwhile, Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten have decided against running, and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II has declared his candidacy for governor as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer approaches term limits.
On the Republican front, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who narrowly lost to Democrat Elissa Slotkin in 2024, is expected to vie for the seat once again.
McMorrow, first elected to the Michigan legislature in 2018, gained national attention in 2022 following a passionate speech on the House floor. In response to a Republican colleague’s fundraising email that falsely accused her of wanting to “groom” children due to her support for LGBTQ+ rights, she stated, “I am a straight, white, Christian, married, suburban mom” who wants “every kid to feel seen, heard and supported — not marginalized and targeted because they are not straight, white and Christian.”
Representing a suburb of Detroit and holding a leadership role within her caucus, McMorrow has been active in promoting Democratic initiatives concerning gun control and reproductive rights.
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