Getting ready for a bit of a family reunion in Copenhagen - my daughter and her family are coming along with my middle son. My youngest has plans he can’t reschedule so he will not be along. He just took the LSAT which didn’t surprise me - I think he’s way too much of an extrovert for comp sci (his degree). I once asked his 7th grade teacher what my son seemed to be interested in and he laughed and said “other people - he’s interested in other people”. That’s half of lawyering right there.
I’ve been looking at the Michigan Senate race because I will be voting for the eventual winner of the primary. Too, I think it’s a good proxy for the ideological debates in the national Dem party.
We looked at the D candidate on the Right last time, Rep Stevens, so today we’ll do the center, Mallory McMorrow. I’ll be looking at which of the three candidates labor supports - should be interesting because each candidate has policy areas with real appeal to labor. It may be a tough choice for unions.
State Senator Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) turned in nominating petition signatures Monday in her campaign for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat.
Polling has consistently shown the Democratic Senate primary race to be close between McMorrow, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11), and former Wayne County Health Director Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.
Both of McMorrow's main opponents have each carved their own political lanes through supporting moderate and progressive policies, respectively.
Stevens is a member of the House Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group “committed to advancing common-sense solutions to key issues facing our nation.” Meanwhile, El-Sayed supports policies like Medicare for All and has been endorsed by Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a foundational leader in American progressive politics.
McMorrow’s proposed agenda has reflected a mix of both political styles, calling for universal healthcare and pledging to support small and medium-sized businesses. When asked if she considered herself a progressive Monday, McMorrow said she considers herself “pragmatic.” She argued most people don’t identify with labels.
“This is the campaign for everybody. If you’re pissed off, if you’re scared, if you’re angry that government hasn’t worked for you, I don’t care about lanes. I care about meeting you,” McMorrow told reporters.
On the Republican side of the race, former Congressman Mike Rogers is the clear frontrunner in his primary. Last week, the conservative Senate Leadership Fund promised $45 million to helping his campaign through ads starting this fall.
McMorrow has a new maternal health plan out that I like a lot. I’m pleased she’s paying attention to women. Her plan focuses on African American women (and it should) because maternal outcomes for ALL women in the US are terrible, but they’re especially bad for Black women, even when one controls for economic status:
State Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) unveiled a new maternal health policy platform in her bid for U.S. Senate, with a focus on inequities facing mothers of color and bringing enacted statewide policies to the federal level.
“Having safe, accessible, and compassionate care when you’re having a baby should be a given in our country, but it’s not,” McMorrow said in a press release on Monday, at the start of Black Maternal Health Week. “Black women in Michigan are more than 75% more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, and, through the leadership of activists and advocates here in our state, we have enacted real solutions to keep women healthy and safe throughout pregnancy and childbirth.”
McMorrow emphasized that Black women are significantly more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, and even when making considerations for socioeconomic status and access to care, those disparities in Michigan are some of the highest.
I know people are disappointed that white women voted for Trump at 47% compared to 45% for Harris, but that’s a counterproductive grudge to hold. If it were 47% Harris v 45% Trump would we then NOT be disappointed in white women? There’s nothing magical about a majority. The reason we have to keep our 45% white women share (and hopefully grow it) is very simple- they’re the largest group pf voters in the country and they favor Democrats by 10 over white men. This isn’t the policy part of politics, it’s the arithmetic part of politics.
We talk a lot here about how Democrats can break thru and get to people on mainstream me, and social media, and McMorrow has done quite well there. She has had some “viral” moments on social media so that’s a strength. Democrats are at a real disadvantage because all the billionaires are now MAGA, so whether we like it or not we’re going to have to get more creative on media. The billionaires all going far Right may end up being a plus - we won’t owe them anything.
