Michigan Senate Majority Whip Mallory McMorrow officially entered the race for a vacant US Senate seat in Michigan, turning in her campaign’s signatures to get on the ballot this week.

The Democratic primary has shaped up to have three candidates who all are polling fairly closely together; Congresswoman Haley Stevens, progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed and McMorrow.

McMorrow has touted her leadership experience in the Michigan Senate during her campaign so far, although her critics will point to what they see as her inability to work across the aisle in a purple state that voted for Trump in both 2016 and 2024.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the fewest number of bills in 2025 of any year since 1940, largely due to disputes between the Republican House and Democratic Senate.

Even when Democrats held a trifecta from 2023-2025, Democratic infighting between moderates and progressives led to one of the least productive legislative sessions in history.

Still, McMorrow has attempted to tout some bipartisan credentials, such as beating a Republican incumbent.

“I’m the only candidate in this race who has beaten a Republican incumbent to get into the office, the only candidate in this race who, for the last few cycles, has been campaigning statewide, not for myself, but to build real power, to help people,” McMorrow said.

In addition to facing scrutiny about her record, McMorrow, Stevens, and El-Sayed have all staked out controversial positions on Israel, an issue that has caused deepening divisions within the Democratic Party.

Stevens has taken an unapologetically pro-Israel stance, receiving over $9 million from pro-Israel lobby AIPAC during her political career and an endorsement from the Democratic Majority for Israel PAC.

Meanwhile, El-Sayed has taken a radically anti-Israel position, inviting condemnation from lawmakers and politicians on both sides of the aisle for joining a speaking engagement at Michigan State University with far-left podcaster Hasan Piker.

McMorrow has attempted to stake out a compromise position, being critical of more aggressive pro-Israel lobbies such as AIPAC while receiving the support of liberal Zionist organization J Street.

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