El-Sayed and Rogers trade attacks in first Michigan Senate debate
publishers 36articles 43first reported 8 Oct, 17:29 UTCdeveloping since 8 Oct · 9 editions
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers traded personal attacks and clashed over the economy, health care and U.S. policy toward Iran and Israel in the first of two planned debates in Michigan’s closely contested U.S. Senate race.
The hourlong televised debate Thursday became so heated that the confrontation continued during a commercial break. Moderator Rick Albin said he had not seen that happen in 30 years of conducting debates.
El-Sayed accused Rogers, a former U.S. representative backed by President Donald Trump, of serving corporate interests and supporting Trump’s agenda while Michigan residents face higher costs. Rogers called El-Sayed a “con man,” questioned his credentials and accused him of ties to Middle Eastern groups. When Rogers suggested surveillance concerns might relate to suspicions about El-Sayed or a family member, El-Sayed replied, “Go ahead and say it. You’ve been tiptoeing around it the whole time.”
The candidates also disputed each other’s wealth and property holdings. El-Sayed accused Rogers of owning a Florida home and two yachts, while Rogers raised overseas properties owned by El-Sayed’s wife. The National reported that the couple owns rental properties in Bangalore and Dubai, not Egypt as Rogers suggested.
After the debate, Trump praised Rogers on Truth Social and attacked El-Sayed. The candidates are seeking to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters in the November 3 election. The race is widely considered a toss-up and could affect control of the Senate.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 2 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 30 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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