Mallory Ann McMorrow (born August 23, 1986) is a Michigan State Senator representing the 8th District since 2019, serving as Senate Majority Whip since January 2023. A New Jersey native who moved to Michigan, she previously worked in industrial design. McMorrow rose to national prominence in April 2022 after a viral floor speech defending herself and LGBTQ+ youth against baseless accusations from a Republican colleague, earning over one million views. She delivered a notable speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention highlighting Project 2025. Published 'Hate Won't Win: Find Your Power and Leave This Place Better Than We Found It' in March 2025.
McMorrow was born in Readington Township, New Jersey and raised Roman Catholic with active parish involvement. Her parents divorced, and their priest told her mother she was 'not living up to the Church's expectations.' She worked in industrial design before moving to Michigan. She was first elected to Michigan Senate in 2018, defeating incumbent Republican Marty Knollenberg by nearly 4% margin. Reelected in 2022 with ~79% of vote. McMorrow married Ray Wert, former head of Gawker's content sales and editor of Jalopnik, in June 2017 in Detroit's Eastern Market. They have a daughter born in January 2021 and live in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Public option, not Medicare for All
Believes single-payer too big a challenge for 360+ million people; wants options and choice, not single system
Voting History: State senator; no federal voting record
ICE reform, not abolition
Michigan is border state needing immigration enforcement; ICE should protect borders but not terrorize communities
Voting History: No federal voting record
Two-state solution; defensive aid to Israel
Maintains support for Israel's security; advocates Block the Bombs; visited Israel in 2023; in October 2025 said Gaza legally met genocide definition but distanced herself from response
Voting History: No federal voting record
Billionaires can exist if they give back
Cited Mark Cuban as example; believes in meritocracy and giving back to society; not as aggressive on wealth redistribution as El-Sayed
Voting History: No federal voting record
No corporate PAC money in Senate race
Raised $3.9 million from 60,000 individual donors; more than half from donations $200 or less; outraised other candidates with zero corporate PAC dollars
Voting History: Has taken corporate money in past state races
Strict regulation and transparency
Voted for state tax breaks in late 2024 but now proposing federal ban on non-disclosure agreements; requires developers to pay own infrastructure costs
Voting History: Voted for data center tax breaks in 2024
McMorrow is a Michigan state senator with no federal voting record. In state legislature, she was instrumental in passing legislation to strengthen gun control laws, ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth, and repeal Michigan's abortion ban. Elected in 2018 with ~4% margin, won reelection in 2022 with ~79% of vote.
| Bill | Title | Vote | Date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gun safety legislation | Law allowing removal of guns during mental health crisis | Yea | 2020-2024 | Core legislative achievement in Michigan Senate |
| Conversion therapy ban | Legislation banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth | Yea | 2020-2024 | Major LGBTQ+ protection |
| Abortion ban repeal | Repeal of Michigan's abortion ban | Yea | 2024 | Critical reproductive rights legislation |
| Data center tax breaks | Data center tax incentive legislation | Yea | 2024 | Now criticized as contradicting anti-surveillance platform |
McMorrow's social media presents her as authentic, relatable, and willing to fight. Tone is more conversational and personal than policy-heavy. Her 2022 viral speech established her as willing to stand up forcefully against attacks. 2026 content aims to recreate that energy while expanding to policy proposals.
Floor speech defending herself and LGBTQ+ youth against baseless accusations from Republican lawmaker
Response to GOP fundraising email falsely claiming she wanted to 'groom kindergarteners'; speech went viral with over 1 million views
View post →DNC speech featuring Project 2025 document as warning about Trump agenda
Major national profile moment; one of Democratic Party's most consistent tools against Trump
Surveillance pricing video explaining dangers of algorithmic pricing
Went viral but drew criticism for disconnect with 2024 data center tax vote
McMorrow is not committed to Medicare for All and is too moderate
El-Sayed criticized McMorrow's healthcare plan as insufficient on Twitter
McMorrow is cynical phony populist who talks left but acts right
Jacobin criticized McMorrow for making viral anti-surveillance pricing video while having voted for data center tax breaks as state senator