Photo: Conlan Houston / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
On Oct. 8, Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed met for their first debate in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race. The exchange turned personal and exposed sharp differences on gas prices, Iran, Israel and health care.
On Oct. 8, Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed met in Grand Rapids for their first debate in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, trading personal attacks and policy jabs, according to Fox News.
Fox reported that Rogers had declined a debate last month hosted by FOX 2 Detroit, citing concerns about the moderator’s impartiality. Moderator Rick Albin repeatedly stepped in. “You can’t litigate all of these with 14 different rebuttals,” he told the candidates, according to Fox.
Personal attacks
Rogers questioned El-Sayed’s medical credentials and called him a “con-man,” Fox reported. El-Sayed holds a medical degree from Columbia University, according to Fox.
El-Sayed accused Rogers of profiting from corporate relationships after leaving Congress. Rogers denied owning any yachts and said El-Sayed owns a home in the United Arab Emirates, according to Fox and the Daily Wire.
The Daily Wire reported that Rogers also faulted El-Sayed for not issuing a statement condemning the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on their third anniversary. El-Sayed said he had condemned them and would not make “political theater” out of other people’s pain.
Policy differences
On gas prices, El-Sayed said federal price controls on domestically produced oil were worth considering, Fox reported. Rogers rejected that and backed temporary gas tax relief, diesel rebates and a pause on diesel exports.
On Israel, El-Sayed said he did not want tax dollars buying weapons for other countries, according to Fox. Rogers said he would support defensive weapons for Israel. On Iran, Rogers said the war should end but Iran must not get a nuclear weapon. El-Sayed blamed the war for higher gas prices.
El-Sayed defended his Medicare for All proposal. Rogers argued it would end existing private coverage and bring significant new taxes on families, Fox reported.
El-Sayed accused Rogers of being a “rubber stamp” for President Trump, The Hill reported. Rogers pointed to disagreements with the administration. The Hill said he has called for ending the trade war with Canada and suggested the immigration crackdown had at times gone too far.
Trump weighs in
Trump posted on Truth Social shortly after midnight on Oct. 9 that Rogers “completely obliterated” El-Sayed. He called El-Sayed a “Jihadist lunatic,” according to The Hill.
The Hill reported that Trump has repeatedly called the Democrat “Mohammed.” El-Sayed said before the debate that Trump knows his name is Abdul. He accused the president of using his name and faith to distract from costs at “the pump, at the grocery store, and at the doctor’s office.”
The race
A late-September Fox News poll had El-Sayed ahead 50% to 49% among likely voters. The Daily Wire, citing the RealClearPolitics average, put his lead at 3 points. The seat is being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, Fox reported.
What it means for you
- Gas prices are central: El-Sayed said he would consider federal price controls on domestic oil, while Rogers backs temporary gas tax relief and diesel rebates.
- Health care is a clear dividing line: El-Sayed backs Medicare for All, and Rogers says it would end existing private coverage and raise taxes on families.
- The race is close, with a Fox News poll at 50% to 49% and RealClearPolitics showing a 3-point El-Sayed lead, according to the Daily Wire.
- Michigan voters decide the open seat of retiring Sen. Gary Peters in the November election.
Sources
- https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6138472-donald-trump-abdul-el-sayed-michigan-senate-debate-criticism/
- https://www.dailywire.com/news/rogers-rips-el-sayed-over-foreign-ties-as-senate-debate-turns-personal
- https://www.foxnews.com/politics/michigan-senate-debate-erupts-personal-attacks-rogers-el-sayed-clash-over-israel-iran-more