Michigan Democrat raises eyebrows after floating Iron Dome protections for Palestinians

A progressive state legislator running to become Michigan’s next U.S. senator has expressed openness to supporting Iron Dome for Palestinians.

State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Mich., made the following statement, which raised eyebrows: first reported by Jewish Insider, During a recent interview with pro-Palestinian podcasters Matt Bernstein and Emma Vigeland.

“I don’t think anyone should live in fear of being bombed or killed.” McMorrow said when his hosts grilled him about his support for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. “I would look at how we support defense systems for the Palestinians. How do we support defense systems for the Lebanese?”

Asked by Fox News Digital if this would apply to Palestinians in Hamas-controlled Gaza, a spokesperson for McMorrow said “No.”

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“His priority remains to end this war and secure lasting peace in the region,” the spokesman said.

During the interview, McMorrow also did not mention Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terrorist group that indiscriminately fires missiles from Lebanon at Israel.

After Vigeland sarcastically suggested that the Palestinians have access to Iron Dome missile technology, McMorrow enthusiastically responded: “Let’s have this conversation.”

McMorrow’s comments appeared to double down when he drew an audible groan from Bernstein, who continued to pressure the Senate in hopes of rejecting Israel’s support for defensive weapons.

“I mean the horror of living in constant fear of being bombed,” McMorrow said. “Let’s work on the outcome of how we end the violence, period.”

McMorrow later said he hoped missile defense systems would eventually become completely redundant.

“I would love to go to a place that no one needs,” he told the podcasters, referring to the Iron Dome.

He also told podcasters that he would support a resolution sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that would block certain arms sales to Israel. The measure failed in April due to overwhelming opposition from Senate Republicans and a handful of pro-Israel Democrats.

Mallory McMorrow campaigns at the Michigan Democratic Nominating Convention in Detroit on April 19, 2026. (Jim West/UCG/Universal Images Group)

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McMorrow’s remarks came as he races for the Democratic nomination in a three-way primary that counts Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities as key voter groups.

Establishment Democrat Rep. Haley Stevens, backed by pro-Israel groups, and Abdul El-Sayed, backed by Bernie Sanders, are also running in the August primary.

The Senate didn’t seem hopeful of backing down when podcasters railed against “Zionist brainwashing” or accused Israel of being an “apartheid state.”

During the interview, McMorrow tried to portray herself as a bridge candidate who could prevent the Democratic coalition from falling apart over Israeli-Palestinian issues.

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow are running to the left of Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., and have sharply criticized the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images; Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

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“If we let this tear us apart, we get Mike Rogers,” McMorrow said, referring to the presumptive GOP nominee backed by the president. “[Donald] Trump wins.”

El-Sayed sparked outrage after the audio recording was leaked earlier this year. Washington Free Beacon, It showed the far-left candidate expressing concerns about voters allegedly upset by the killing of former Iranian religious leader Ali Khamenei during a US-Israeli airstrike.