U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers says he never agreed to a televised debate with Democrat Abdul El‑Sayed, calling the 2‑on‑1 format a surprise that left the podium empty, per his interview with CBS News Detroit.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R‑MI) told CBS News Detroit’s Heath Kalb that he "never agreed" to appear in Tuesday night’s televised debate with his Michigan Senate opponent, Democrat Abdul El‑Sayed. Rogers said the event, which aired on Fox 2 Detroit, would have been a "2‑on‑1" format that he did not sign up for.
Rogers’ clarification
During the interview, Rogers emphasized that his campaign never gave consent for the debate and that the notion of a joint appearance was "misrepresented" by the network. "I was never asked to be there, and I never said I would be," Rogers said. He added that the decision to decline was made well before the debate was scheduled.
El‑Sayed’s solo appearance
Despite the Republican’s refusal, the Fox 2 Detroit broadcast featured El‑Sayed speaking for about an hour from an empty podium. The Democratic candidate used the platform to outline his policy priorities, ranging from health care reform to climate action, while repeatedly noting the absence of his opponent.
Background on the race
The Michigan Senate seat, currently held by Democrat Debbie Stabenow, is set to be contested in the 2024 election. Rogers, a veteran lawmaker with a long record in the House, is positioning himself as the GOP’s standard‑bearer, while El‑Sayed, a former health commissioner, is campaigning on a progressive agenda.
Both campaigns have been active on the ground, holding town halls, canvassing neighborhoods, and leveraging digital outreach. While El‑Sayed’s team framed the solo debate as a demonstration of his willingness to engage, Rogers’ camp has framed the incident as a media stunt that mischaracterized his stance.
What’s next?
Rogers has indicated that his campaign will continue to focus on traditional campaign events and will consider future debate opportunities that meet his criteria. El‑Sayed, meanwhile, has pledged to keep pressing for joint appearances, saying that voters deserve to hear both sides side‑by‑side.
The next major campaign milestone is expected to be a series of joint town hall meetings slated for November, which both candidates have confirmed they will attend.
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