Michigan state senator decries conservative ideals in interview with the Rover

Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow, Notre Dame alumna and the Michigan Senate’s Majority Whip, addressed the Democratic National Convention (DNC) during its opening night on Monday, August 19. 

Originally from New Jersey, McMorrow graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2008 with a degree in industrial design. Her involvement in politics began in 2018 when she was elected to the Michigan Senate from the 13th district in Detroit in an upset victory over Republican incumbent Marty Knollenburg. 

At the DNC, McMorrow gave a speech holding a large book with the Heritage Foundation’s “Mandate for Leadership – Project 2025” on the cover. “This is the Republican blueprint for a second Trump term,” McMorrow stated. She spoke about “its plan to turn Donald Trump into a dictator,” labeling his supporters as “MAGA minions.”

Writing on Truth Social on July 11, President Trump denied involvement with Project 2025. He stated “I know nothing about Project 2025. I have not seen it, I have no idea who is in charge of it, and, unlike our very well received Republican platform, had nothing to do with it.”

Many Notre Dame students also objected to McMorrow’s characterization of Project 2025 as a Trump-endorsed agenda. “Donald Trump is not the author of Project 2025, and he is not personally responsible for it,” said freshman Nathan Ogden, citing Trump’s message on Truth Social.

McMorrow identifies as Catholic, and she has spoken about her faith on numerous occasions. In one interview with Religion News Service, McMorrow was asked about the possible incongruity between her Catholic faith and her support of LGBTQ rights. McMorrow responded, “Religious freedom in this country means you are free to practice your own religion, not you are free to inflict it on other people if they don’t agree. So no, I don’t think there is any conflict with supporting gay marriage, supporting LGBTQ issues.”

During her tenure in the Michigan Senate, McMorrow has backed numerous leftist positions including gun control, LGBTQ+ rights, renewable energy, abortion rights, and she was known for her staunch opposition to Donald Trump. She sponsored S.R. 0126, a bill that designated June 2024 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, declaring that the “people of Michigan understand, appreciate, and value the cultural, civic, and economic contributions of the LGBTQ+ community.” 

In April of 2022, she was accused of “grooming and sexualizing children” by Republican state senator Lana Theis in a fundraising email. McMorrow’s reaction and denial went viral and was covered by nationwide media. Responding to the incident, McMorrow said in a floor speech in the Michigan Senate, “Hate wins when people like me stand by and let it happen. I won’t.”

During an interview with the Rover, McMorrow further expanded on her positions. She gave no credence to Trump’s denials of involvement in Project 2025, explaining, “It’s insulting to voters, it’s trying to pull the wool over the people’s eyes, to say this connection isn’t there, when it really is.”

McMorrow also criticized the document’s plan to reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy. She paraphrased the document, saying, “If Donald Trump gets back in the White House, he’s going to fire civil servants, like intelligence officers, engineers, and even federal prosecutors … if he decides they don’t serve his personal agenda.” 

Commenting on what she believes is a threat to the justice system, “Donald Trump would be able to weaponize the Department of Justice to go after his political opponents,” said McMorrow. 

A sophomore in Sorin College called this assertion “laughable.” He continued, “Has she forgotten that Trump is facing 91 felony counts over charges even liberal legal scholars admit are baseless? … We’re going to take lectures on democracy from a party that tried to disqualify the leading opposition candidate?” 

When asked about the charges Trump faced, McMorrow told the Rover, “This is not about interpretation. … They’re just flat out crimes.” 

Students and faculty varied in their response to McMorrow’s appearance at the DNC.

“I think it’s just nonsense targeting,” said Ogden, continuing, “Go after his policies, not him personally.” Ogden said, “I’m not a Republican, but I don’t agree with that.”

When Michigan repealed its 1932 ban on abortion, McMorrow said in an interview with MSNBC, “Women and families have the right to decide if and when to get pregnant.” McMorrow has repeatedly defended abortion, labeling it as “reproductive healthcare” on her campaign website.

Freshman Quinn Reilly felt conflicted about McMorrow’s remarks: “It’s good that an ND alum like McMorrow has had a successful political career, but her beliefs are clearly at odds with Notre Dame’s values.”

The University of Notre Dame, in keeping with the doctrine of the Catholic Church, has condemned abortion in the past. Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, then-President John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. said in a published statement, “As a Catholic university, Notre Dame is committed to the sanctity of all human life, and I have for many years joined with others in advocating for the protection of unborn life.” 

When asked about the inherent conflict between Catholic Social Teaching and her views on abortion, McMorrow told the Rover, “Something like 70 percent of Catholics believe abortion should be legal in most if not all cases,” further adding, “Abortion has been really demonized when it is a medical procedure that may be necessary throughout a pregnancy.” 

When asked about their perspective on McMorrow’s remarks, Notre Dame College Democrats did not respond to an email request for a comment.

McMorrow is currently sponsoring bills on healthcare, education, and insurance regulation, among other issues. She will be competing to retain her seat in the November elections in Michigan. 

Sam Marchand is a sophomore studying political science and finance from Beaumont, TX. He sorely misses Dr. Pepper, which is unavailable in the dining halls, and squanders much of his spare time by aimlessly reading the Current Events section of Wikipedia preparing arguments for ND Speech & Debate, of which he serves as president. He can be reached at smarcha3@nd.edu.

This article was corrected after publication on Sept. 11, 2024. State Senator McMorrow is the Majority Whip, not the Minority Whip.

Photo Credit: https://www.mcmorrowformichigan.com/meet-mallory

Subscribe to the Irish Rover here.

Donate to the Irish Rover here.