Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers met for their second and final debate in Michigan's open Senate race, a contest that could tip the balance of power in the upper chamber. The exchange was less combative than their first encounter, but both candidates drew sharp lines on records, loyalty, and the influence of former President Donald Trump.
Recent polls show El-Sayed holding a narrow edge over Rogers, and Decision Desk HQ gives the Democrat a 67% chance of winning the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.). The stakes are high, with control of the Senate hanging in the balance.
Muslim Brotherhood Allegations Dominate
Rogers repeatedly sought to tie El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood, an accusation that has dogged the Democrat on the trail. "Being bought off by the Muslim Brotherhood, having donors to his campaign from Hamas that support Hezbollah. It's not a problem?" Rogers asked. "If you are going to go to the United States Senate, we need to know: Are you for America or are you for these terrorist groups overseas?"
El-Sayed fired back, calling the attacks "really quite beneath you" and questioning his loyalty to the Constitution. "He keeps raising this question about this association with an organization I've never been a part of… it doesn't make any sense," El-Sayed said. He also pointed to his pride in America and the Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom.
Rogers's campaign has cited contributions from individuals linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and a 2012 open letter El-Sayed signed supporting a purge of "the media and police" after the election of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. El-Sayed has disavowed the group, which Trump designated as a terrorist organization in his final year in office.
Rogers Tries to Distance from Trump
Rogers has sought to carve out independence from Trump, who remains unpopular in Michigan. He has called for ending the Iran war and criticized Trump's tariffs on Canada as not "well thought through." El-Sayed, however, hammered Rogers for courting Trump's support, noting the former president's upcoming visit to Michigan on Sunday. "You cannot win this race without Donald Trump coming here and stumping for you. That's why you begged him to come," El-Sayed said.
El-Sayed also accused Rogers of playing "MAGA bingo," using buzzwords to distract voters. Rogers countered by mocking El-Sayed's focus on Trump, saying, "The bingo game ought to be how many times can he put the word Trump in any answer that he has given in the last, whatever, 30 minutes. It's ridiculous." He insisted the race should be about Michigan's future.
Rogers Pitches to Democrats
In his closing remarks, Rogers made a direct appeal to Democrats who supported Rep. Haley Stevens in the primary, suggesting they might find a home in his campaign. "If you're a Haley Stevens voter, and you came out of this, and you said, 'Man, I just can't do it. He's too extreme…' Well, guess what? You have a home with us," Rogers said.
El-Sayed narrowly defeated Stevens in August by just one point, a race dominated by U.S. policy toward Israel. Rogers has launched a "Democrats for Mike Rogers" coalition and touted crossover support. He also sought to tie El-Sayed to the Democratic Socialists of America, though El-Sayed is not a member but supports policies like Medicare for All.
Rogers argued that El-Sayed is "really good on his feet" but "not so good when it comes to policy." The debate underscored the deep divisions in a race that could help determine which party controls the Senate. With early voting underway, both campaigns are mobilizing supporters ahead of Election Day.
