Rogers and El-Sayed clash over Muslim Brotherhood claims in final Michigan Senate debate
In short
Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed held their second and final Michigan Senate debate on Wednesday in Detroit. The New York Post reported that Rogers accused El-Sayed of Muslim Brotherhood ties and called him a national security risk, and El-Sayed called the questioning of his commitment to the Constitution beneath Rogers. El-Sayed leads by about 2 to 2.6 points in the RealClearPolitics average.
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Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed met on Wednesday night in Detroit for their second and final debate in Michigan's open Senate race. Newsweek said WXYZ-TV, Channel 7, carried the debate live and statewide from its Broadcast House studios in Detroit, with coverage starting at 7 p.m. ET. CBS News described it as the final debate before the midterms. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The New York Post reported that Rogers, a former Republican congressman and retired FBI agent, attacked El-Sayed over alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. It said Rogers brought up an open letter to the group that El-Sayed reportedly signed in 2012 and refused to comment on when asked by the New York Times. "If you are going to go to the United States Senate, we need to know, are you for America? Or are you for these terrorist groups overseas?" Rogers said, according to the paper, adding that this was "a risk to our national security." [ 4 ]
El-Sayed later objected that Rogers would question his allegiances. "To bring into question my commitment to the Constitution is really beneath you," he said, the New York Post reported. Newsweek reported that El-Sayed has denied that he or his family has ties to the organization. The New York Post's account was marked as a developing story. [ 1 , 4 ]
The first meeting, on October 8 in Grand Rapids, also turned acrimonious. Newsweek said the two men talked over each other and swapped personal shots for an hour, and moderator Rick Albin said he had not seen that in 30 years of debates. Rogers said of El-Sayed, "he's not really a doctor," and El-Sayed, who has a medical degree from Columbia University and a doctorate in public health from Oxford University, has faced criticism for describing himself as a physician when he does not practice medicine. According to Newsweek, El-Sayed kept steering back to President Donald Trump, calling Rogers "weak and cowardly" for standing with the president, and also criticized Rogers over campaign donations, investments and the two yachts El-Sayed says Rogers owns. The New York Post added that El-Sayed refused to say whether he considers Iran or Israel the greater threat to the United States. [ 1 , 4 ]
Newsweek said El-Sayed went into the debate up about 2.6 points in the RealClearPolitics polling average, while the New York Post put his edge at 2 points and said polls have regularly pegged the race as a toss-up. The winner takes the seat of retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters, and the Nov. 3 outcome could determine which party controls the Senate next year. Newsweek added that early in-person voting opens on Saturday and that former President Barack Obama and Trump are both due in the state by Sunday. [ 1 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The race for the seat of retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters could help decide control of the Senate next year, according to Newsweek and the New York Post. The Nov. 3 contest has been described as a toss-up in polls.
Key facts
- Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed met on Wednesday night in Detroit for their second and final debate in Michigan's open Senate race. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Newsweek said WXYZ-TV, Channel 7, carried the debate live and statewide from its Detroit studios, with coverage starting at 7 p.m. ET. [ 1 ]
- The winner takes the seat of retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters; the outcome of the Nov. 3 contest could determine which party controls the Senate next year. [ 1 , 4 ]
- El-Sayed leads in the RealClearPolitics polling average: about 2.6 points according to Newsweek, 2 points according to the New York Post. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Rogers said at the debate that El-Sayed was a risk to national security and was bought off by the Muslim Brotherhood, according to the New York Post. [ 4 ]
- El-Sayed responded that questioning his commitment to the Constitution was beneath Rogers. [ 4 ]
- Their first debate, on October 8 in Grand Rapids, was marked by the two men talking over each other and trading personal attacks. [ 1 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The debate on Wednesday night was the second and final one between Rogers and El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate race. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- El-Sayed holds a narrow lead over Rogers in the RealClearPolitics polling average. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The seat is being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters, and the race could decide Senate control next year. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Rogers has linked El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood, including in the first debate and again on Wednesday. [ 1 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether El-Sayed or his family has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Rogers alleges ties; Newsweek reports that El-Sayed has denied that he or his family has ties to the organization.
- Whether El-Sayed signed a 2012 open letter to the Muslim Brotherhood. The New York Post says he reportedly signed it and refused to comment when asked by the New York Times; no other document addresses it.
- What happened across the full debate and who it favored. The New York Post story is marked as developing and the CBS documents are only previews, so no complete account of the debate is available.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Newsweek publishes a preview of the second debate, noting El-Sayed's polling lead. [ 1 ]
- CBS News publishes a report saying the two candidates will meet on the debate stage Wednesday night. [ 2 ]
- Live coverage of the debate starts at 7 p.m. ET on WXYZ-TV, Channel 7, per Newsweek. [ 1 ]
- CBS News publishes a preview of what to expect from the debate. [ 3 ]
- The New York Post publishes its report on the debate, describing Rogers's attacks over alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties. [ 4 ]