GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — In a bold move that has intensified the Democratic primary race for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat, Mallory McMorrow has declared the ongoing war in Gaza a genocide. This statement marks a significant shift in her stance, aligning her with some progressives but setting her apart from her main rival, Haley Stevens.

McMorrow made her views known during a voter interaction at a brewery in Allegan, as revealed in a video shared by her campaign team. The transformation in her rhetoric comes at a critical time, just before the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, which escalated the conflict.

“I’m not accepting AIPAC support,” McMorrow stated during the event, distancing herself from the influential pro-Israel lobby that supports Stevens. She emphasized the need for a humane approach to the conflict in the Middle East, calling for a two-state solution and expressing deep concern over the loss of human life.

Her recent acknowledgment of the situation as genocide was prompted by a question from a voter, to which she hesitated before affirmatively responding. McMorrow elaborated on the complexity of the term "genocide," especially within the Jewish community, and stressed the importance of focusing on solutions rather than definitions.

The reaction to McMorrow's stance has been mixed. AIPAC swiftly countered her assertions, defending Israel's actions as just and moral, and calling for pressure on Hamas instead. Meanwhile, Abdul El-Sayed, another Democratic contender and a Sanders-endorsed candidate, has long regarded the war as genocide and warns that AIPAC's support for Stevens might inadvertently aid Republican efforts in the state.

This issue has become a prominent point of contention in the primary, with McMorrow and El-Sayed both facing questions about it at nearly every campaign stop. Both candidates have criticized Stevens for her connections with establishment figures and AIPAC, with McMorrow specifically pointing out the moral implications of U.S. financial involvement in the conflict.

As the primary date approaches, with discussions of moving it earlier than the scheduled August, the candidates continue to sharpen their positions. McMorrow’s bold labeling of the conflict as genocide underscores the highly charged atmosphere of this primary, highlighting deep divisions within the party and among its base on foreign policy issues.

The primary race remains closely watched, not only for its implications for Michigan but also for the broader Democratic strategy in 2024’s crucial Senate races. McMorrow's recent statements have certainly set the stage for a heated debate on foreign policy and the direction of the Democratic Party.