Palantir-linked donations riddle Michigan Senate race, McMorrow returned the money

A Sunday report from Detroit News shows that three Michigan Senate candidates have accepted campaign donations from the tech company Palantir, which has a $30 million federal contract with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Palintar is developing software for ICE to track immigrants, specifically those who self-deport or have expired visas, according to Business Insider. Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican frontrunner in the race, and Democratic candidates Haley Stevens and Mallory McMorrow have all received donations from Palantir-linked donors this cycle. All three are vying to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) along with Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive Democrat who has not reported any contributions from Palantir-linked donors.

McMorrow’s campaign told Detroit News that she had returned donations she received last year from two Palantir employees totaling $4,750 earlier this month.

Stevens has not returned the donations despite also being outspoken against ICE and voting to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security. El-Sayed believes ICE should be abolished, while Stevens and McMorrow have called for reforming the agency. A poll conducted by Upswing Research published on March 12 suggests a tight race between the three Democratic candidates ahead of the Aug. 4 primary election.

In addition to accepting $5,300 in donations from Palantir founder Joe Lonsdale, Rogers has also received $27,625 from for-profit prison companies providing detention facilities for ICE.