Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow’s decision to end her campaign for Senate sets up a fierce contest between the Democratic Party’s establishment and progressive wings with about a month to go until the primary. 

“I haven’t been shy about calling for new leadership and a better Democratic Party. I mean it.” McMorrow said in a Sunday video announcing her exit from the race. “The energy is there. People are crying out for change. And we owe it to them to listen. Then we need to build it up, together, from the ground up.”

Now, next month’s Democratic primary for an open Senate seat that is expected to be among the most competitive in the nation this fall, has become a two-way contest between Rep. Haley Stevens, who has the backing of Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, and Abdul El-Sayed, a former local public health official who last week nabbed an endorsement from New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. 

Recent surveys have shown El-Sayed leading the race with Stevens in second, although both sides are expected to contest fiercely for McMorrow’s supporters. McMorrow had presented herself as ideologically in between Stevens and El-Sayed. 

The winner of the Aug. 4 primary will face off against former Rep. Mike Rogers, who narrowly lost the 2024 Senate race but has consolidated Republican support behind his campaign to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

Defending Peters’ seat is a must for Democrats as they seek to capitalize on strong recruits in a handful of other competitive states and look to win control of the Senate, a prospect that looked unlikely at the beginning of the 2026 election cycle. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the Michigan race a Toss-up. 

McMorrow did not endorse Stevens or El-Sayed on Sunday, saying, “Whoever wins this primary on August 4th will have my full support.”

Stevens praised McMorrow for being an “important voice” in both the Legislature and in the Senate campaign “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, lower costs, protect manufacturing jobs, and stand up to Trump’s abuses of power,” she said in a statement.

After McMorrow’s announcement, Stevens picked up endorsements from state Attorney General Dana Nessel and EMILY’s List, which supports Democratic women who back abortion rights. 

“She is a tested, effective leader with the coalition, credibility, and track record to win this race, beat Mike Rogers in November, and serve as a powerful voice for Michigan in the Senate,” Jessica Mackler, EMILY’S List president, said in a statement. 

Meanwhile, El-Sayed responded to McMorrow’s move by saying he welcomed her “supporters to our movement.”

“We cannot allow the establishment to decide our nominee for us,” he said. 

New Jersey Rep. Analilia Mejía, a progressive who won a special election this year after a closely watched Democratic primary, announced her endorsement of El-Sayed on Monday. 

Progressives see El-Sayed’s campaign as one of their next best opportunities for a Democratic primary victory after challengers backed by the party’s left flank ousted incumbents in New York and Colorado last month. 

Republicans appear to be hoping El-Sayed’s momentum continues, seeing him as the possibly weaker general election candidate. The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a digital ad last month calling him “too radical for the U.S. Senate,” which Stevens argued Monday on MS NOW is a sign “they think that they can beat him in November.”

Outside groups have already flooded the Michigan airwaves with over $32 million in advertising. The United Democracy Project, the political arm of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is so far the biggest spender, dropping $11 million to support Stevens and oppose El-Sayed.