Sparks fly as Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers face off in first Michigan Senate debate
NBC News · LC · trust 47/100
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed sought to portray his Republican rival, former Rep. Mike Rogers, as a weak-willed loyalist to President Donald Trump who has recently changed his positions on certain issues out of political necessity.
Rogers tried to frame El-Sayed as a “con man” who is making promises he cannot pay for without raising taxes or other costs.
Each repeatedly taunted the other over real estate — a home Rogers has in Florida and property El-Sayed’s wife owns in the United Arab Emirates. The debate, hosted by NBC affiliate WOOD of Grand Rapids, became so punchy at times that moderator Rick Albin pleaded for the candidates to rein in their attacks.
“I’d like to be a part of the debate, too,” Albin interjected at one point.
Michigan’s Senate race is one of the most competitive and closely watched in the country, and the results could help determine partisan control of the chamber. Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat, is not seeking re-election.
Backed by progressive luminaries such as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., El-Sayed emerged from a nasty primary against Rep. Haley Stevens, who positioned herself as a more moderate Democrat. Since then, Republicans eager to win a Senate seat in the state for the first time since 1994 have tried to paint El-Sayed as an extremist.
The debate opened with Albin asking both candidates whether, at a time of high gas prices related to the war with Iran, they would support a pause on the federal gas tax. Both said they would support a pause, but the question led into a deeper discussion about the conflict. Rogers, who initially supported the war, recently said he wants it to end swiftly .
“I would support pausing the federal gas tax, but there is one thing that is actually causing this: It’s the war in Iran, a war that has been cheer-led by my opponent since the beginning,” El-Sayed said. “Called it a ‘win, win, win.’ I don’t know about you, but when I go to the gas tank, I don’t feel like I’m winning. I don’t feel like our country is winning.”
Rogers responded by pivoting to El-Sayed’s support for “Medicare for All,” a proposal that Sanders and others on the left have been championing for years. Such a policy, Rogers asserted, would force people off private insurance they might prefer while causing taxes and gas prices to rise.
“It is a disaster,” Rogers said. “We cannot afford Abdul.”
At another point, Rogers said: “Listen to this guy and what he’s trying to sell here today. You’re going to find out that this guy is not what he says he is. He is actually selling the best con I think I’ve ever seen.”
Albin then turned the discussion toward tariffs — another area in which Rogers has recently tried to distance himself from Trump.
New tariffs implemented by Trump took effect last month, placing duties of 15% to 50% on $20 billion worth of U.S. products exported to Canada. The tariffs are a major issue in Michigan, which borders and trades with Canada. Rogers, who once supported Trump’s push, released an ad this week calling for an end to the trade war .
“I have actually called the White House this week, talked to the secretary of commerce about getting the deal done,” Rogers said during the debate. “Canada still has some high tariffs for U.S. goods, and they did it before they started. Those should be eliminated. There are tariffs that I think are too high and not helpful for us. We ought to get rid of those. So this is about getting the best deal possible. I’d like to see it end.”
El-Sayed countered by noting Rogers’ initial support and a study that estimated how costly the tariffs have been for Michigan households.
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