MI-SEN: Democrat Mallory McMorrow is the first to announce a 2026 run for Michigan's open US Senate seat

[RandySF]

It’s probably the worst kept secret in Michigan politics: State Sen. Mallory McMorrow is running to be the state’s next U.S. Senator.

After more than two months of speculation and overt hints, McMorrow made it official Wednesday that she wants to replace U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, who will not seek reelection in 2026.

McMorrow stakes her claim as a new type of Democrat in her campaign video that takes not-so-subtle swipes at the current party leadership, mockingly referencing the “little paddles” Democrats used at President Donald Trump’s congressional address last month and disdaining “the same old crap out of Washington.”

While the outsider brand is nothing new in politics, the Royal Oak Democrat believes her own lived experience will resonate with Michigan voters disillusioned with the status quo.

“I graduated right into the recession. I had a great internship that did not lead to a job. I had tens of thousands of dollars in student loans. I spent a couple of nights sleeping in the backseat of my car. And what I know is that there are so many people who simply do not believe that the American dream is possible for them anymore,” McMorrow told the Michigan Advance.


https://michiganadvance.com/2025/04/02/democrat-mallory-mcmorrow-is-the-first-to-announce-a-2026-run-for-michigans-open-us-senate-seat/

[DFW]

1. If Buttigieg is not running for this Senate seat

I think that means he is thinking of running for the White House in 2028. Fine with me. Those states that wouldn't elect a gay man to the presidency are pretty much those states that would never vote for a Democrat anyway, gay or otherwise.

It's unfortunate that Mayor Pete is now a Michigan resident, which means a ticket with him and Gretchen Whitmer won't fly (unless Buttigieg moves back to Indiana, or to some other state). Buttigieg/Kelly would work for me, but we have a lot of talent out there, and it's early. As long as we don't get any "lookit me" types in the race, it should remain fairly free of acrimony, and, ironically, end up being like one of Mao's best-known quotes: "Let a hundred flowers bloom. Let a hundred schools of thought contend." Republicans have only one school of thought, namely Money=Power=God. Not surprisingly, their flowers have long since wilted and died.

It would not be the first time a state would have had two women Senators. Interestingly enough, Washington State and Minnesota both have two women in the Senate who are not very much alike. If McMorrow should win, this would be another such case. Elissa has a military/CIA backround, and McMorrow has a suburban background, and one of someone who never had an easy time getting established. She and Elissa would have an interesting time exchanging war stories.