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Sparks fly as Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers face off in first Michigan Senate debate

El-Sayed challenged Mike Rogers over his positions on Iran and tariffs while outlining his own views in their first debate.

Sparks fly as Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers face off in first Michigan Senate debate
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This article1 analysis · Oct 9, 2026
NBC News
Oct 8, 2026
tl;dr

Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers traded attacks and clashed over the Iran war, tariffs, immigration and other issues in their first debate for Michigan’s open Senate seat. The closely watched race could help determine control of the Senate.

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VOTING CLOSED
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NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting El-Sayed in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward El-Sayed’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

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Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan and debate participant

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Republican Senate candidate in Michigan and debate participant

Rogers's version of this story ↗

Representative who ran against El-Sayed in the Democratic primary

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose policies and remarks are discussed

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Senator who supports Medicare for All

J.D. Vance
Vice President of the United States

Vice president quoted as urging Republicans to emphasize El-Sayed

Representative who backs El-Sayed

Gary C. Peters
D · MI · SEN

Michigan senator who is not seeking re-election

ALSO MENTIONED  Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan governor who appeared with El-Sayed at a lunch event

Part of a bigger story

26 OUTLETS
Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers Debate in Michigan Senate Race

Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers held their first debate in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, trading personal attacks and clashing over policy. El-Sayed challenged Rogers and defended his own positions. Left-leaning outlets emphasize El-Sayed’s pushback against Rogers’s attacks and, in some coverage, portray him as composed or focus on campaign challenges. Center outlets largely present a combative exchange of mutual personal attacks and policy clashes, with some checking claims from both candidates. Right-leaning outlets give more weight to Rogers’s attacks and El-Sayed’s positions on Israel, immigration and foreign ties, often portraying El-Sayed critically.

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