From the HERE City State Desk
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers, the major-party candidates for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat, are set to debate Thursday night in Grand Rapids.
The hourlong televised debate begins at 7 p.m. and will be moderated by political reporter Rick Albin. Candidates get 60 seconds to answer each question, with 30 seconds for follow-ups, rebuttals and closing statements. It is being held in the same Grand Rapids studio where the candidates for governor debated Tuesday.
Rogers skipped an earlier debate on Sept. 15, saying he never agreed to attend.
A recent statewide poll by Mitchell Research and Communications found El-Sayed with 45.6% of likely voters to 41.4% for Rogers, with 6% undecided. Four other candidates on the ballot, Libertarian Lydia Christensen, Timothy Long of the U.S. Taxpayers Party, Douglas P. Marsh of the Green Party and Walter P. Kristy of the Natural Law Party, each drew 3% or less.
El-Sayed, a former state health official, has campaigned on a Medicare for All plan, getting money out of politics and affordability. Rogers, who served in the Army and the FBI, says he wants to bring manufacturing jobs to Michigan, lower costs and protect Social Security and Medicare.
The winner will succeed Sen. Gary Peters, who announced in January 2025 that he would step down at the end of his term. As of Oct. 5, 125,635 Michiganders had already voted, about 1.7% of active registered voters.
