'Michigan Senate rivals call each other 'con man' and 'sock puppet' in a vicious first debate

From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026.

Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed tore into each other throughout their first Michigan Senate debate on Thursday night, with the moderator forced to admit he had never seen candidates keep fighting through a commercial break in 30 years. Rogers repeatedly attacked El-Sayed's medical credentials, claiming he would face jail if he tried to treat a patient, while El-Sayed accused Rogers of being Trump's rubber stamp on Iran and corporate giveaways. The open seat left by outgoing Senator Gary Peters makes Michigan one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country.

Rogers accused El-Sayed of lying about his Egyptian citizenship and his medical career, calling it 'the best con I've ever seen.'

El-Sayed refused to say whether Iran or Israel poses the greater threat to the US, calling the question 'a ridiculous hypothetical' when pressed twice.

Rogers blasted El-Sayed for failing to release a statement marking the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack, accusing him of being 'bought off by Hamas.'