Democrat Mallory McMorrow drops Senate bid in Michigan in blow to far-left run by Abdul El-Sayed
Progressive policy ambitions meet practical realities as Americans weigh costs and consequences.
Mallory McMorrow bowing out isn't really about Mallory McMorrow. It's about a Michigan Democratic Party watching Abdul El-Sayed build actual momentum and deciding they'd rather clear the field for Haley Stevens than risk a real primary fight. That's not a party trusting its voters.
New Republican Times Editorial Board
U.S. Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow dropped out of Michigan's Democratic primary, likely helping consolidate support around the establishment's pick, Rep. Haley Stevens.
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New Republican Times Editorial Board
Mallory McMorrow bowing out isn't really about Mallory McMorrow. It's about a Michigan Democratic Party watching Abdul El-Sayed build actual momentum and deciding they'd rather clear the field for Haley Stevens than risk a real primary fight. That's not a party trusting its voters. That's a party managing them.
El-Sayed has been running to the left on healthcare, on Gaza, on the whole progressive checklist, and he's clearly got energy behind him in a way the establishment finds uncomfortable. So instead of letting Michigan Democrats sort it out, the machine nudges a candidate out early to consolidate around the safer pick. Voters get told after the fact who their choice is going to be.
We've watched this movie before. Democrats love to talk about protecting democratic norms right up until their own base wants something the party bosses don't. Then suddenly it's all about "electability" and quiet phone calls.
Stevens may well win Michigan fair and square in November. But this is a reminder that plenty of Democratic voters don't actually get to pick their nominee. Someone picks it for them, and hopes nobody notices.
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.