Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow’s out-raised her Democratic primary opponents in the most recent reporting period, FEC records show
McMorrow raised more than $3 million in the first three months of the year, compared to about $2.3 million from former Wayne County health director Abdul El-Sayed and $2 million from US Rep. Haley Stevens.
“This is absolutely huge,” McMorrow said in a video.
Reports filed Wednesday, April 15, with the Federal Election Commission show McMorrow raised nearly all of her money from individual donors. 120,000 people have given to the campaign of the 39-year-old state senator from Royal Oak since she launched her campaign for U.S. Senate.
FEC records show McMorrow also finished the most recent reporting period with more in her war chest than Stevens for the first time since candidates began reporting their fundraising totals.
El-Sayed lead candidates in money raised form outside of the state, nearly $1.3 million. McMorrow’s campaign saw more than $830,000 from outside the state, with Stevens raising about $1.2 million from non-Michiganders.
After flipping a Republican-held Oakland County district in 2018, her viral speech on the Michigan Senate floor in April 2022, which caught the attention of Hillary Clinton, turned McMorrow into a high-profile state political figure and national fundraiser.
The state’s Independent Redistricting Commission pushed her district into part of Detroit after she defeated former state Sen. Marshall Bullock, D-Detroit, in an August 2022 primary. Critics of Bullock at the time pointed to his campaign accepting a donation from former Sen. Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, while supporters questioned McMorrow’s ability to represent Black Detroiters.
McMorrow is tied at 24% in the Democratic primary race with former Wayne County health director Abdul El-Sayed, according to an Emerson College/WOOD-TV poll published Thursday, April 16.
A poll from the same firm in January showed McMorrow ahead in the primary with 22% of the support to 17% for Stevens and 16% for El-Sayed.
Stevens has said since the beginning of her campaign she believes she is the best equipped Democrat to defeat former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican running for Michigan’s opening U.S. Senate seat.
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters announced last year he wouldn’t seek reelection. Peters told Michigan Chronicle at the Michigan Democratic Party convention over the weekend voters have three good choices to pick from.
“We have three really wonderful candidates that are running for the Senate,” Peters said. “I’m confident in all of their abilities, and now they need to get out and make their case to the people in the state of Michigan.”
Stevens was booed by party delegates at the Michigan Democratic Party convention last weekend, where Israel’s influence on American politicians remained top of mind for thousands of party members who propelled progressive Democrats to decisive victories.
Party delegates chose progressives in the races for Secretary of State, Attorney General and University of Michigan regent.
Stevens handed out physical copies of her 2025 tax return at the convention, saying she is the only candidate to do so. She called on other Michigan Senate candidates to be transparent and do the same.
Rogers, who does not have an opponent raising a significant amount of money in the Republican primary race, still maintains a cash advantage over the entire field.
“The future of our state and country are riding on this race, and we are fighting every day to earn working families’ support,” spokesperson Alyssa Brouillet said in a statement.
