Haley Stevens, Mallory McMorrow and Abdul-El Sayed. Photos: Haley Stevens, Sam Robinson, Abdul El-Sayed
Three of the four Metro Detroit Democrats running for Michigan’s opening U.S. Senate seat are among the top fundraisers in the country for candidates in competitive Senate races.
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak and former Wayne County health director Abdul-El Sayed all reported raised more than $1 million in the latest period.
McMorrow led all candidates in the latest reporting period, receiving $2.1 million in donations from supporters.
“We did it all starting from zero,” McMorrow said in a video posted this month. “Because unlike somebody who already holds federal office, I couldn’t just roll my campaign funds into our new Senate account — I had to start from zero.”
Philantropist Linh Song and her husband, former Duo Security CEO and co-founder Dug Song, of Ann Arbor, philantropist Ruth Ann Harnisch and former U.S. Judge Steven Rhodes gave McMorrow the maximum amount of $7,000. Detroiters actor Sam Richardson also gave a maximum contribution to Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow’s U.S. Senate campaign.
McMorrow and El-Sayed received nearly all of their donations from individuals, but Stevens is winning the battle of the war chest, with nearly $2 million in cash on hand, to El-Sayed’s $1.1 million and McMorrow’s $827,000. Stevens transferred $1.5 million from her U.S. House campaign account, according to Federal Election Commission reports filed at the July 15 deadline.
During the second quarter, 93% percent of individual contributions to Stevens campaign were $100 or less, her campaign said.
“I’m honored to have received the support of so many Michiganders to win this Senate seat,” Stevens said in a statement. “My life has been defined by moments when Michigan is in crisis, and during these uncertain times I will continue to stand against the Trump Administration’s chaos and reckless policies and do what I have always done: fight for Michigan and win for Michigan.”
El-Sayed’s campaign in a press release highlighted that 95% of donations were $100 or less. His campaign has made stops in various Northern Michigan cities connecting with more than 1,700 new volunteers who signed up to boost his campaign.
“Our movement is about the kind of folks who don’t have lobbyists or PACs,” El-Sayed said. “It’s why so many Michiganders contributed their time, their hard-earned dollars, their stories, or their support.”
El-Sayed’s top donors are mostly business owners and physicians. He received a max donation from Haseeb Hosein, a police officer in Boston, who was the first Muslim police captain in the department’s history. Another max donor, Ali Jawad, of Dearborn, is the founder of the Lebanese American Hertiage Club. A LinkedIn profile shows Jawad is the CEO of a wholesale petroleum distributor based in Melvindale.
Reports from CNN and Axios show Stevens, McMorrow and El-Sayed are in the top ten U.S. Senate fundraisers in the country. Jon Ossoff of Georgia leads all candidates by $7 million, with $10.1 million raised in the latest reporting period.
Individual donors to Stevens’ campaign include Pistons chairman Arn Tellum, who gave a max contribution, former Michigan Gov. James Blanchard, who has donated $5,500 and Detroit attorney Ven Johnson.
Former Michigan House Speaker Rep. Joe Tate, D-Detroit, raised less than $193,000, reporting about $70,000 cash on hand. The fourth candidate to put his name in the hat for the U.S. Senate seat being left open by Sen. Gary Peters, who is retiring, Tate will need a major boost to remain competitive in what is already a multi-million dollar race.
Republican Mike Rogers, who lost to Sen. Elissa Slotkin in 2024, raised $745,000 since announcing his candidacy. He’s the only Republican to formally file for the office.
Rogers’ campaign account shows nearly $1.3 million — he funds transferred from a past campaign.
Republican Mike Rogers, who lost to Sen. Elissa Slotkin in 2024, is getting a $5 million boost from the Great Lakes Conservative Fund, according to a report from The Hill.
U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Holland Township, who is considering entering the Republican field, raised $747,000 for his current congressional campaign.
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