US Senate candidate calls Gaza war a genocide in Michigan senate bid
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Michigan Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow now says the war in Gaza is a genocide, breaking with AIPAC-backed colleagues and rivals.
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Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow speaks during the first day of the Democratic National Convention, Monday, August 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Mallory McMorrow, a Democratic candidate in Michigan’s competitive Senate primary, now says the war in Gaza constitutes a genocide, marking a significant shift in her public stance.
The statement, made during a voter event in Allegan, Michigan, came days ahead of the anniversary of the October 7 operation by the Palestinian Resistance that "Israel" cites as the excuse for its genocide in Gaza.
In a recorded exchange provided to Politico, McMorrow was asked directly if she considered the conflict a genocide. After a long pause, she answered, “Based on the definition, yes.”
Her comments come as debate around the use of the term "genocide" in Gaza increasingly divides Democratic voters and candidates, particularly in Michigan, where large Arab and Muslim communities have played a major role in shaping the political landscape.
Read more: Michigan's primary fight could redefine Democratic Party: POLITICO
Rejecting AIPAC support in a tight democratic primary
During the same event, McMorrow was asked if she would accept backing from AIPAC, the pro-"Israel" lobbying group that is supporting her opponent, Representative Haley Stevens.
“I’m not accepting AIPAC support,” she said. “I’m not seeking their endorsement. I’ve never accepted their support. And what we are seeing in the Middle East is a moral abomination.”
McMorrow also expressed support for US Senator Bernie Sanders’ resolution to block offensive weapons sales to "Israel" and called for a two-state solution.
She described to Politico the framing of the conflict in US political circles as dehumanizing and lacking in compassion, saying, “It is talked about as like a third rail litmus test without acknowledging these are human beings... our position should be that there is no individual life that is worth more than another individual life.”
Gaza, genocide, and the Michigan senate race
McMorrow’s updated stance places her in alignment with another primary rival, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who has long referred to the war as a genocide. In contrast, Stevens has refrained from using the term and recently declined two interviews with Politico on the subject.
A McMorrow spokesperson cited a September 16 report by a United Nations Commission of Inquiry as a basis for her shift, as well as continued engagement with community leaders in Michigan.
13 days before making her latest comments, McMorrow had described the war as a “moral catastrophe” but stopped short of calling it genocide. She now joins a growing chorus of Democrats, including Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, in labeling the war accordingly.
Read more: Democrats break from AIPAC as war on Gaza shifts 'Israel' stance: NYT
Rivals split over language and alliances
El-Sayed, backed by Sanders, has frequently raised the issue of US funding for "Israel" and the implications for domestic priorities:
“Our tax dollars are being misappropriated to weaponize food against children and to subsidize a genocide... it is the single biggest applause line in every speech.”
He has warned that AIPAC’s backing of Stevens could weaken the Democratic coalition and risk flipping the seat to Republicans. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have reportedly aligned behind Stevens, despite rising grassroots pressure.
Meanwhile, Stevens was reported to be attending a luxury fundraiser in California’s Napa Valley, a move criticized by El-Sayed as tone-deaf amid rising economic concerns and deepening public scrutiny over US foreign policy in Palestine.
“I’ve never been to a wine cave,” El-Sayed told Politico. “I don’t really know what happens there, but I’ll tell you this, I’ve been all over my state, and I’ve never found one.”
The Michigan Senate race is rapidly becoming a litmus test for the Democratic Party’s direction on Palestine. With public opinion shifting and the "uncommitted" movement gaining ground in the state, candidates like McMorrow and El-Sayed are seeking to redefine the party’s stance on "Israel" and its decades-long policies in Gaza.
As the August primary approaches, the candidates’ positions on Gaza and their ties to groups like AIPAC may prove decisive in a state where foreign policy is becoming a domestic voting issue.
