Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed squared off Wednesday night in their second and final debate, exchanging sharp attacks over President Donald Trump, foreign policy and personal integrity with less than two weeks remaining until Election Day.
The high-stakes faceoff at WXYZ-TV studios in Southfield highlighted a pivotal contest to succeed Sen. Gary Peters, who is vacating the seat. The race could determine which party controls the U.S. Senate next year. A late September Fox News poll showed the candidates essentially deadlocked, with El-Sayed at 50 percent and Rogers at 49 percent, ABC News reported.
Clashing over Trump and personal attacks
El-Sayed repeatedly attempted to tie Rogers directly to the White House, calling the former congressman a “sock puppet” for Trump and warning that his platform represents a “MAGA vision” that damages household budgets. El-Sayed told viewers to play “MAGA bingo” whenever his opponent spoke, asserting Rogers aligns with Trump on policies driving up consumer expenses, CBS News reported.
Rogers pushed back against the label, quipping that the real game should measure how frequently the Democrat mentions Trump, CBS News reported. Following the broadcast, Rogers said he plans to attend a scheduled Sunday campaign rally featuring Trump in Michigan, though he noted final logistics were not settled.
Rogers mounted his own offensive, accusing El-Sayed of harboring extreme progressive views and engaging in a “pattern of deception” to hide past positions. Rogers argued that some traditional Democratic voters and Jewish constituents have expressed unease over El-Sayed’s record of criticizing the Israeli government, according to CBS News.
The sharpest clash emerged when Rogers sought to link El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood, referencing social media posts from El-Sayed’s half-sister regarding his mother in Egypt. Rogers warned that El-Sayed posed a national security concern and told journalists afterward that he questions whether the Democrat could obtain a security clearance.
El-Sayed vehemently rejected any ties to the group, calling the accusation “shameful” and pointing out that his parents divorced during his childhood. He emphasized that his mother works as a nurse in Missouri, remarking to Rogers that such attacks were “beneath you,” CBS News reported.
Foreign policy and economic pressures
The candidates also offered starkly contrasting views on the war with Iran and its ripple effects on living costs. El-Sayed blamed the military engagement for surging inflation and gas prices, advocating for a War Powers Resolution to restrain the administration, CBS News reported. He argued that the Iranian threat had been contained by the Obama-era nuclear agreement before Trump terminated the pact.
Rogers responded that he wants the conflict to conclude but argued that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear arms or disrupting the Strait of Hormuz remains critical to stabilizing fuel prices. Rogers warned that El-Sayed’s approach to national security made him unsuitable for the Senate.
Economic debates quickly shifted to health care and trade. Rogers seized on El-Sayed’s backing of a single-payer Medicare for All system, claiming it would trigger painful tax hikes. Rogers remarked, “Money in your pocket? You’ll be lucky to have a damn pair of pants when you’re done,” CBS News reported.
El-Sayed countered that major corporations funding Rogers’ campaign are the ones taking money from voters, adding after the debate that universal coverage would ultimately lower health expenditures.
On trade, Rogers called Trump’s tariffs a “mixed bag,” objecting specifically to import penalties on Canada because of Michigan’s closely integrated auto sector, while El-Sayed warned against abrupt and sweeping duties.
With voting underway, both candidates are preparing for final blitzes across the state. Former President Barack Obama is scheduled to campaign alongside El-Sayed in Detroit on Saturday, ABC News reported.
