Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El–Sayed dismissed what he called a “dumb question” and repeatedly declined to say whether Iran or Israel represents the greater threat to the United States during a heated debate Thursday night with Republican Mike Rogers.
The clash unfolded as the candidates exchanged personal attacks in the race to succeed outgoing Michigan Senator Gary Peters.
When the moderator repeatedly pressed him to choose between the two Middle Eastern countries, El-Sayed rejected the premise as a “ridiculous hypothetical.” He argued that both nations had demonstrated they could be “dangerous in their own way.”
The dispute was one of several explosive moments in a debate marked by frequent interruptions and overlapping exchanges. At one point, the moderator joked that he would “like to be a part of the debate too.”
Rogers branded El-Sayed a “glitchy AI chatbot” who was “bought off by Hamas.” El-Sayed countered that Rogers was inauthentic and merely a rubber stamp for President Trump.
Rogers also challenged El-Sayed’s medical credentials, accusing him of “selling the best con I’ve ever seen” and insisting that “he’s not really a doctor.”
El-Sayed responded by pointing to his medical degree from Columbia University. He told Rogers that any concerns about his credentials could be taken directly to the state licensing board.
El-Sayed then attacked Rogers over his position on Iran, accusing him of wanting to be “a sock puppet for the administration.” He called the Republican “weak” and “cowardly.”
“Whenever Donald Trump says, jump. He says, ‘How high?’” El-Sayed added with a dry laugh.
The bitter exchange underscored the escalating tensions in a Senate campaign increasingly defined by personal attacks from both candidates.
The candidates debated issues including the war in Iran, the trade war, immigration, healthcare and more.
Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El–Sayed and former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers clashed in their first major debate, launching a fierce contest for the Michigan Senate seat being vacated by longtime Senator Gary Peters.
Although former Congressman Rogers is backed by Trump in his second campaign for the US Senate, he recently broke with the president over the administration’s trade war with Canada.
Rogers also brought up the work history of El-Sayed’s mother, prompting an angry response from the Democrat: “Are you going after my mom?”
“I’m not going after your mom… I was going after that organization that was indicted for funneling money to Al Qaeda,” Rogers replied. “Look, that’s your mom. My mom worked at the Brighton Chamber of Commerce.”
Rogers was referring to the Islamic American Relief Agency, a Missouri-based charity where El-Sayed’s biological mother, Fatten Elkomy, worked with orphans from 1999 through 2004.
The charity pleaded guilty in 2016 to sanctions violations, conspiracy to launder money and obstructing tax laws after illegally transferring nearly $1.4 million to Iraq—not to financing al-Qaeda. El-Sayed’s mother was never charged.
Rogers also criticized turnover within El-Sayed’s campaign. “He had a top staffer flee his campaign, talking about how this guy’s a manufactured candidate,” he said. “What he’s basically telling you is he will say anything to win.”
Rogers has portrayed El-Sayed as “too extreme,” while El-Sayed has repeatedly criticized Rogers for closely aligning himself with Trump’s agenda.
Rogers did not attend a September candidate forum alongside El-Sayed, leading the Democrat to quip: “If I were him, I wouldn’t debate me either.”
The race is a virtual tie, with recent polling putting the candidates one point apart. The Cook Political Report rates it a toss-up, though prediction markets give El-Sayed the edge.
If elected, El–Sayed would make history as the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.
In a controversial late–Wednesday social media post, President Trump targeted El–Sayed directly, referring to the Democratic nominee as ‘Mohammed’ and alleging he ‘goes back to the days of the Jihad’.
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‘He is a Radical Extremist, Terrorist Sympathizer,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social.
El–Sayed, who was born to Egyptian parents, called Trump’s post an ‘attack on all of us.’
‘He thinks he can use my name and my faith to distract us from the suffering his policies are inflicting on us,’ he responded.
Both national party heavyweights are leaning heavily into the Rust Belt battleground.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris recently hit the campaign trail in Michigan to support El–Sayed, following up on her endorsement from a month prior.
Looking ahead, former President Barack Obama is slated to headline a campaign rally on Oct. 24, the first day of Michigan’s in–person early voting, to back both El–Sayed and Democratic candidate for governor, Jocelyn Benson.
However, new reports have cast a shadow over the upcoming star powered visit.
The showdown marks an escalation in an increasingly contentious campaign trail where both candidates have traded sharp broadsides
Rogers previously skipped a September candidate forum with El–Sayed, prompting the Democrat to remark at the time, ‘If I were him, I wouldn’t debate me either’
Both national party heavyweights are leaning heavily into the Rust Belt battleground
El-Sayed and former Vice President Kamala Harris participate in a roundtable discussion on reproductive health at Birth Detroit in Detroit, Michigan
El-Sayed maintains a slight lead in the polls over Republican and former Congressman Mike Rogers in a key state that Democrats must not lose in order to flip the Senate blue
Resurfaced footage, panels and articles unsurfaced by CNN revealed past remarks where El–Sayed harshly criticized Obama, claiming the nation was ‘not better off’ after eight years of his administration and charging that ‘the list of his failures goes on.’
In a series of blistering critiques, El–Sayed took aim at Obama’s claim to political fame, dismissing the Affordable Care Act as a ‘watered–down reform that kowtows to the interests of healthcare lobbies.’
He leveled insults against the former president’s entire presidential record, taking issue with military drone strikes, growing economic inequality, eroding civil right and the widening reach of counterterrorism operations in Yemen and Pakistan.
In Great Falls Virginia, Obama was asked about his comments during a fireside chat with Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, saying, ‘I’m going to go to Michigan to campaign for Abdul El–Sayed. And people are like, ‘Well, he’s really left wing.’ But I don’t know, he’s for a higher minimum wage and health care for all, and it doesn’t seem crazy to me. You know, FDR was for that too.’
While El–Sayed grapples with party fractures on his left, Rogers faces his own balancing act on the right as he seeks distance from key White House policies.
Though backed by Trump in his second bid for the US Senate, former Congressman Rogers recently broke ranks with the president over his administration’s trade war with Canada.
Rogers addressed his change in tone on tariffs during the debate tonight, saying he spoke to the Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick this week.
‘I have actually called the White House this week, talked to the Secretary of Commerce about getting the deal done. Canada still has some high tariffs for US goods, and they did it before this started. Those should be eliminated. There are tariffs that I think are too high and not helpful for us,’ Rogers responded.
During the debate, El-Sayed accused Rogers of profiting off public service: ‘What he has been serious about is making sure that he can monetize his time in public office – 14 million dollars, two yachts, a McMansion in Florida.’
In a heated race with tight margins, Rogers faces a historic uphill climb, as Michigan has not elected a Republican senator in 32 years.
On Friday, Rogers will campaign in Oakland County accompanied by Senator John Kennedy.
