How Democrats’ Big Tent is reflected in one crowded Senate primary
I spoke to two Democrats running for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate Seat about bucking the establishment, AI, universal healthcare, and the Iran War
The Democratic primary for an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan has become a high-stakes, three-way race that could shed light on the future of the party. Three highly qualified candidates—Abdul El-Sayed, Mallory McMorrow, and Haley Stevens—are competing against each other to take on former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in November, and some of their positions, messages, and campaign strategies couldn’t be more different.
This week, I had the opportunity to sit down with two of them—El Sayed and McMorrow—to hear how they would tackle everything from AI data centers in their communities to the Iran War, universal healthcare, and standing up to both status-quo protecting Democratic colleagues and the Trump administration in Washington.
El Sayed, a physician and public health expert endorsed by Bernie Sanders, has made universal healthcare via Medicare for All a centerpiece of his campaign (he literally wrote an entire book on it), and if elected to the seat, would become the Democrats’ first medical doctor in the Senate. He told me that Democrats should aggressively work to lower costs for working people, whether it’s in the form of medical bills or grocery bills. “I’m running to do three very simple things. I wanna get money out of politics, I wanna put money in your pocket, I wanna pass Medicare for All,” he says. He also discussed his concerns with massive AI data center projects, which have become a major issue with Michigan communities - and an issue more Democratic candidates running this year should work to bring attention to.
McMorrow, on the other hand, has become a rising star in the party due to her bold advocacy against Republican extremism in the Michigan state legislature. “We need Washington to function more like Michigan... I helped break the Republican super majority... and we really got to work delivering,” she says. Her campaign has been anchored by focusing on lower costs, democratic renewal, and to some extent, tech accountability. In our conversation, she took an aggressive posture against the big tech and AI companies that are increasingly taking over our politics and daily lives. “ I have parents tell me they’re at their wits end. I’m gonna quote one here: ‘fuck these tech companies for breaking my kids’ brains, period.’ How do we make sure tech companies are held responsible for creating safe products?”
At the end of the day, whoever emerges from Michigan’s Democratic primary in August will have a tough fight ahead of them in November—Michigan is the quintessential swing state after all. But, after speaking to both of them, they each exemplify a “gloves off” approach that I think is sorely needed in our politics right now.
Make sure to watch both episodes on COURIER’s YouTube channel, or listen on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts - and please share them with your friends and family in Michigan before their August primary!