Michigan Senate: El-Sayed and Rogers fight for decisive seat
Voters choose between a progressive Democrat and a conservative Republican in a race that will determine control of the U.S. Senate.
By Ivan Mori ·
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers contest the Michigan Senate seat on Tuesday, a matchup that could decide the balance of power in Washington. The race pits El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director, against Rogers, a former congressman who lost the state’s 2024 Senate election by fewer than 20,000 votes.
El-Sayed seeks to validate a progressive platform built on universal healthcare in a state President Donald Trump won in 2024. He defeated establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens in a costly Democratic primary. El-Sayed aims to expand the Democratic base by increasing youth turnout and appealing to rural Republicans.
Rogers views this election as a second opportunity to win in Michigan. He faces a tougher environment than in 2024, as Trump is no longer at the top of the ballot and high gas prices weigh on the economy. Rogers also must manage the unpopular war with Iran while remaining aligned with the president.
The campaign has been marked by intense spending and ideological clashes. Outside groups have poured well over $100 million into advertising since the August 4 primary. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent nearly $30 million against El-Sayed, its largest single-race investment. Republicans have repeatedly linked El-Sayed to terrorist organizations, despite a lack of evidence, and Trump called him a “jihadist.”
Divisions within Michigan’s Jewish, Muslim, and Black communities have complicated the race. Stevens, who received strong support from Black and Jewish voters in metro Detroit, endorsed Rogers in the final days. Stevens said her defection resulted from El-Sayed’s failure to address community concerns, citing his March comments about a synagogue attack. El-Sayed later apologized for those remarks. Kamala Harris and Barack Obama both campaigned for El-Sayed in September to consolidate support.
The retirement of Democratic Sen. Gary Peters opened the seat. No Republican has won a Michigan Senate race since 1994. Democrats need to gain four seats to secure a majority, making this contest critical for the party.
Rogers has focused his campaign on attacking El-Sayed rather than promoting Republican legislative achievements. He campaigned alongside Trump at a rally in Port Huron on October 25. In September, Rogers wrote on social media that the war with Iran “needs to end, and end quickly.”
