Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow announced on Sunday that she is suspending her campaign for the Democratic nomination for the state's vacant U.S. Senate seat. McMorrow, who was an early favorite in the race, leaves a narrowed field ahead of the competitive August primary.
Her exit sets up a two-person fight for the seat being vacated this year by Democrat Gary Peters. The primary is now a straight contest between the party's progressive and establishment wings, represented by former public health official Abdul El-Sayed and congresswoman Haley Stevens.
The shift comes as many Democrats increasingly viewed McMorrow as a long shot for the nomination. While the three-way contest was close earlier in the campaign, recent polls indicated that McMorrow's support had plunged, allowing El-Sayed to race past her and Stevens to emerge as the frontrunner. This development creates a fresh dynamic in one of the country's most closely watched Senate races.