Meet Mallory McMorrow: U.S. Senate Candidate

Editor’s note: Michigan Farm Bureau has coordinated with the candidates for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat and the gubernatorial race to provide their responses to four questions to help you learn more about the candidate, their background, and agriculture-related views. In the interest of fairness and objectivity, staff did not write or edit the candidates’ submissions. Each profile is presented as submitted by the candidates.

U.S. Senate Candidates: Mallory McMorrow, Mike Rogers, and Haley Stevens

Candidates for Governor: Jocelyn Benson, Mike Cox, Mike Duggan, John James, Perry Johnson, Aric Nesbitt, Ralph Rebandt, and Kim Thomas

Mallory McMorrow – Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate

In your words, tell us who you are and why you’re the ideal candidate for U.S. Senate. 

I’m running for Senate to deliver a brighter future for every Michigander. The old way of doing things isn't working, and we need leaders who can meet the moment we’re in. We need to rebuild trust by showing people we work for them, not corporations or special interests. And we need to show up, listen –– then fight and deliver. That’s what I’ve done for the last eight years in the Michigan legislature - protecting benefits for veterans, eliminating the retirement tax, working to cut auto insurance rates, and so much more. We have to build a New American Dream –– not just for the wealthy, for everyone.

Farm profitability remains a major concern for many producers. What policies would you support to strengthen the farm economy, manage rising input costs like fertilizer, and improve long-term financial stability for farmers? 

Michigan farmers are getting squeezed from every direction right now, and too many in Washington have done nothing about it. The conflict in Iran has disrupted global energy and fertilizer markets, and Michigan farmers are paying the price.

We also need to address the corporate consolidation that's squeezing farmers on both ends and forcing them to pay more for inputs and get less for their products. I'll fight for antitrust enforcement in the agricultural supply chain.

And we can't ignore the basics: I'll work in partnership with state and federal government to streamline regulatory requirements and make it more seamless to operate small businesses, including family farms, while expanding access to training and support programs that help producers adapt and stay resilient.

Those who feed our nation should not have to take on second or third jobs to afford to do so, and we need fighters in Washington who understand the importance of strengthening the farm economy.

Workforce shortages continue to challenge many sectors of agriculture. What policies would you support to help farmers and agribusinesses attract and retain employees, and what role should programs such as H-2A play in meeting labor needs? 

It is vital that we support an immigration framework that allows farmers to access the labor they need to operate and thrive. Michigan agriculture depends on a reliable, legal workforce, and the current H-2A program, while valuable, is too slow, too costly, and too bureaucratic for many family operations.

I support reforming H-2A to reduce processing delays, lower administrative burdens, and expand its practical accessibility for small and mid-sized farms. At the same time, we need a broader, commonsense immigration overhaul of our broken system that supports economic growth.

I also believe we need to invest in domestic workforce development: partnering with community colleges, vocational programs, and agricultural extension services to build a pipeline of skilled workers for farm and agribusiness jobs right here in Michigan. Good farm jobs should be good jobs, and improving wages, housing, and working conditions will help attract and retain workers for the long term and make it easier to hire Michiganders rather than rely on temporary foreign labor.

Federal policy plays a major role in agriculture through trade. How should the U.S. balance market access through trade agreements, enforcement against unfair trade practices, and utilization of tariffs? 

Blunt, chaotic foreign policy doesn't just affect the stock market; it also shows up in the cost of fertilizer. I'll fight to implement a strategic, fair trade policy that works for Michigan — not punishing tariffs that drive up the cost of everyday goods and the inputs our farmers depend on.

Michigan is an export state. Our farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses need open, stable markets abroad. I support trade agreements that expand access for Michigan agricultural products while including strong, enforceable labor and environmental standards, so we're not undercutting American farmers with cheap imports produced under conditions we'd never accept here at home.

Stability and predictability matter as much as the terms themselves. Farmers make long-term investments, and they need to trust that trade policy won't shift overnight based on a post or a phone call. I'll be a consistent, reliable voice for Michigan agriculture on the world stage.