Mallory McMorrow's Waffling Positions on Corporate Money, Data Centers and Israel Spark Scrutiny in Michigan Senate Race

State Sen. Mallory McMorrow says voters don't trust politicians who "talk out of both sides of your mouth." But as the Democratic frontrunner in Michigan's U.S. Senate race tries to hold onto her narrow lead in the August primary, her opponents and others are questioning her changing positions on some of the race's biggest issues.

The waffling has opened up McMorrow to scrutiny from her progressive rival Abdul El-Sayed, a former Wayne County public health director, and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, a center-left Democrat from Birmingham.

The debate centers on several key issues: corporate PAC donations, the war in Gaza, data center regulation, and utility policy. McMorrow says voters don't trust flip-flop politicians. But her record shows positions that have evolved over time, sometimes in ways that have drawn criticism from her opponents.

The Corporate Money Controversy

The corporate PAC money issue has become one of the most significant points of contention in the Democratic Senate primary. McMorrow says she believes campaigns should be run without corporate PAC dollars. But her past record shows a very different stance.

In a 2017 interview with Bustle, McMorrow defended corporate PAC money, saying, "We'll never even win elections to get more seats at the table if we don't take advantage of every opportunity out there. Right now, money wins elections." She also previously posted on social media that, "If we on the left continue to tear down candidates for taking money to win, we'll continue to lose," before later deleting the post.

Now she is presenting herself as a candidate who believes campaigns should be run without corporate PAC dollars.

El-Sayed is taking note. "McMorrow waits until I take a position and then takes a halfway position, like two months later," El-Sayed said on a private organizing call first reported by Punchbowl. "So some of us lead, and some of us follow, and I guess some of us get out of the way."

El-Sayed said the difference between him and McMorrow isn't just ideology, but consistency. "I've been saying the same things for eight years, since I got into politics," El-Sayed recently said. "I didn't shift."

While El-Sayed has consistently barred corporate PAC money, including during his 2018 gubernatorial run, McMorrow had accepted the money — until she launched her U.S. Senate campaign and pledged not to.

Her state Senate campaign committee and leadership PAC accepted more than $120,000 from corporate PACs and other business-aligned groups, including a $500 contribution from Dow's corporate PAC in March 2025, a month before she launched her U.S. Senate campaign.

She also received nearly $20,000 from DTE Energy, CMS Energy, and SEMCO Energy, major utilities that set energy rates for millions of Michigan residents.

"So when you take corporate PAC money for every election you've ever run, and then all of a sudden, six months later, you say you're not going to take it anymore," said El-Sayed.

McMorrow's campaign says her decision-making process has remained consistent, even as her positions have evolved. "Mallory's process for how she comes to decisions has always been the same: looking at the facts on the ground, assessing them as they change, and making the best decision for the people she represents," spokesperson Hannah Lindow tells Metro Times. "That's what everybody deserves in their U.S. Senator."

Data Centers and Utility Regulation

McMorrow has also shifted her positions on data centers and utility regulation. In a March 27 announcement, she released a policy plan for Michigan data centers, saying they don't have to be "developments fraught with transparency and environmental concerns."

The plan focuses on green energy and better regulation of hyperscale digital infrastructure. A wave of more than 15 new data center proposals has emerged across Michigan, raising concerns about environmental impact and community disruption.

McMorrow's approach to data centers has evolved from earlier positions that were less specific about regulation. Her current plan emphasizes transparency, environmental standards, and community involvement.

She also takes a different stance on utility regulation than her opponents. In an earlier position, McMorrow had supported deregulation of energy companies. Now, as part of her Senate campaign, she has shifted to support stricter utility oversight and rate protections for consumers.

Israel's War in Gaza

The war in Gaza has become another flashpoint in the Democratic Senate primary. McMorrow has taken positions on the conflict that have drawn criticism from progressive critics who argue she hasn't been supportive enough of Israel.

Her opponents argue that her positions on the conflict have shifted over time, with McMorrow sometimes taking stances that critics say weren't as pro-Israel as her supporters claim.

El-Sayed and Stevens have both taken more consistent positions on the conflict, arguing that their record shows they've been more reliable supporters of Israel throughout their careers.

What Voters Are Saying

The waffling has raised questions among voters about where McMorrow stands on key issues. Some voters say they're uncomfortable with candidates who change their positions frequently.

"I don't know that I trust a candidate who's changed their mind on corporate money and data centers and Israel," said one voter in Royal Oak, where McMorrow has her campaign office. "I want someone who's consistent, who's going to do what they say they're going to do."

Other voters say they prefer candidates who adapt to new information and changing circumstances. "I think it's important to look at the facts as they change," said another voter. "McMorrow says she's always looking at the facts on the ground. That's important to me."

The Primary Timeline

The Democratic U.S. Senate primary is scheduled for August 4, 2026. McMorrow, El-Sayed, and Stevens have all declared for the nomination and are raising money for their campaigns.

McMorrow has been polling well in some surveys, but the primary remains competitive. El-Sayed and Stevens have both raised concerns about McMorrow's positions on key issues.

The three candidates have held several town halls and debates throughout the campaign season. McMorrow has called for five debates before the primary, arguing that voters need to see candidates explain their positions in detail.

Looking Ahead

The Michigan Senate race is one of the most watched and expensive U.S. Senate races in the country. Republicans are seemingly running it back with Mike Rogers – who lost to Democrat Elissa Slotkin two years ago.

The Democratic primary will determine who faces Rogers in the general election. The outcome could have significant implications for Michigan's political landscape.

As the primary approaches, voters will be watching closely to see how the candidates' positions evolve and whether they can maintain consistency in their messaging.

The race has already become a battleground for competing visions of the Democratic Party. El-Sayed represents the progressive wing, Stevens represents the center-left, and McMorrow tries to appeal to both moderates and progressives.

The waffling accusations could hurt McMorrow's campaign if voters decide they don't trust her consistency. But she maintains that her process has always been the same, even if her positions have evolved.

As the race moves forward, voters will need to decide whether they value consistency or adaptability in a candidate. The answer could determine who represents Michigan in Washington.