Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) on Thursday threw his support behind Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who’s challenging Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) in the 2026 Democratic primary for an open Senate seat, marking the first endorsement from a sitting senator for McMorrow’s campaign.
The endorsement is a sign of Democrats’ waning support for Stevens, who has served four terms in the House and is looking to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI). However, per News of the United States, the incumbent congresswoman is losing momentum in her Senate campaign as Democrats grow increasingly doubtful of her chances next year.
Heinrich is one of those Democrats who chose to back an underdog candidate over the establishment choice.
“We need leaders with the energy to fight, the experience to deliver, and the courage to call B.S. when they see it. That’s Mallory McMorrow,” the senator said in a statement.
“She has a unique and essential ability to reach people where they’re at, with the kind of forward-looking message that Democrats are all-too-often lacking,” he added. “She is perfectly equipped to meet a moment where both message and messenger matter more than ever. I have no doubt that she will be a fantastic colleague and Senator for the state of Michigan.”
McMorrow welcomed Heinrich’s endorsement in a short post on social media.
Heinrich also backs Graham Platner, whose campaign has been embroiled in recent controversies involving his past offensive posts on Reddit and a now-covered tattoo that resembles a Nazi symbol. The senator continues to support the grassroots candidate despite the negative coverage.
“I haven’t seen anyone who has connected with working voters in recent years from our party like he does,” Heinrich told CNN host Wolf Blitzer last week. “As long as he owns up to his mistakes and says, ‘What I did at that time was wrong,’ then I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt.”
Platner is running in the Democratic primary for the Maine Senate against Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) and others. The primary victor will ultimately challenge Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) next year.
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As for the Michigan race, Stevens faces McMorrow and former Wayne County public health director Abdul el Sayed. Both of the congresswoman’s primary opponents are running on progressive platforms, while Stevens embraces the centrist label. Stevens and Sayed are endorsed by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), respectively.
The winner of the August 2026 primary will likely go on to face former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), who narrowly lost the general election against Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) last fall. Rogers has the support of President Donald Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, meaning he will likely become the GOP nominee again.