Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers published an opinion essay attacking his Democratic opponent Abdul El-Sayed over foreign policy views, health care proposals and energy policy, arguing the November race for Michigan’s open Senate seat has become “a fight for the very soul of our state and country.”
Rogers, a former Army officer and FBI agent, wrote that he and his wife Kristi entered the race more than a year and a half ago out of concern over Michigan’s education ranking, which he said has fallen to 45th in the nation, along with what he described as the highest utility rates in the Midwest and rising housing costs pushing young people out of the state.
Much of Rogers’ essay focused on contrasts with El-Sayed following the Democratic primary on Aug. 4. Rogers criticized El-Sayed’s support for Medicare for All, citing past statements in which El-Sayed said the plan would “give other people what you have and make yours more expensive” and would “do away with the private insurance market.” Rogers noted El-Sayed now says employer- and union-provided supplemental coverage could remain under his plan.
Rogers also attacked El-Sayed’s energy positions, saying support for Green New Deal-style policies and a ban on gas-powered cars would threaten auto manufacturing jobs and raise utility and gasoline costs for Michigan families.
Claims about associations and remarks on Israel and Iran
Rogers made a series of sharper claims about El-Sayed’s associations and statements. He said El-Sayed invited to Michigan a person who has said “America deserved 9/11,” and that El-Sayed accepted donations from individuals linked to terrorist organizations.
Rogers also pointed to the March attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, which authorities have described as Hezbollah-inspired, saying El-Sayed responded to the attack by saying “hurt people hurt people.” Rogers wrote this amounted to sympathizing with the attacker.
On Iran and Israel, Rogers cited El-Sayed’s response when asked which country poses the greater threat to the United States, saying El-Sayed replied that both nations have “proven dangerous in their own way.” Rogers argued this equivalence ignores that Iran’s leadership “chant[s] ‘Death to America'” and seeks to eliminate Israel.
Rogers closed his essay with a direct contrast, writing: “Abdul El-Sayed is focused on the West Bank; I am focused on West Michigan… Abdul El-Sayed wants to represent Palestine; I want to represent Michigan.”
The essay did not include a response from El-Sayed’s campaign. Rogers framed his campaign as centered on visiting communities he said Republican candidates have not reached in decades, saying he is focused on “delivering real solutions” rather than social media attention.
