Mike Rogers Says He Never Agreed to Michigan Senate Debate

Republican Mike Rogers defends skipping Detroit debate, claims he was never invited. El-Sayed accuses him of avoiding confrontation.

Editorial Desk

September 16, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Detroit, United States — Republican candidate Mike Rogers has come under scrutiny after declining to participate in a televised Senate debate with Democratic opponent Abdul El-Sayed, claiming he was never officially invited to the event.

The Sept. 15 discussion on FOX 2 Detroit was attended by El-Sayed, who said he accepted the invitation on Aug. 6, following an initial offer from the station on Aug. 5. Rogers’ campaign, however, denied any prior agreement to take part, accusing the network of bias and suggesting the moderator had already taken a side.

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Rogers criticized the format of the event, stating that if a moderator had already chosen a candidate, it would be unfair to hold a two-on-one debate. He also dismissed the idea that he had broken a commitment, noting that the event was not on his schedule. Meanwhile, El-Sayed suggested that Rogers was avoiding questions about his record and support for President Trump, adding that he wouldn’t debate himself either.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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