El-Sayed, Rogers To Share Debate Stage For First Time Thursday

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 10/05/2026) Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers will share the same stage for the first time at Thursday's debate, less than four weeks before voters decide who will replace retiring U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Oakland County).

WOOD TV8's hour-long debate begins at 7 p.m. with moderator Rick Albin, after weeks of back-and-forth over when and where the two candidates would meet.

MIRS asked both campaigns Monday why it has taken until October for the candidates to appear together.

El-Sayed campaign spokesperson Cole Wozniak placed the blame on Rogers, pointing to El-Sayed's August call for five debates and saying the Republican declined proposed dates from FOX 2, WDIV and the Michigan Debate Commission.

"He went so far as to allow Abdul 60 minutes of debating an empty podium on Fox 2 because Rogers is far too afraid to answer tough questions and defend his record," Wozniak said.

FOX 2 invited both candidates to a Sept. 15 debate, but only El-Sayed participated. Rogers said afterward that he had never agreed to the event and accused moderator Roop RAJ of bias.

Rogers' campaign, asked the same question Monday, directed MIRS to the statement he released after the WOOD TV8 debate was confirmed.

"The moment we're in calls for a fighter, not a fraud," Rogers said. "I look forward to taking the stage against conman Abdul El-Sayed to make him answer to the voters for his lies and extremism — and to make my case about the need for change after a quarter-century of single-party rule that has ravaged our schools, decimated our manufacturing industry, and skyrocketed energy prices."

Thursday's debate also comes as a Sept. 30 Fox News Poll found El-Sayed at 50% and Rogers at 49% among likely voters, with 1% undecided.

Nestled in the poll's cross tabs are some interesting movement across party lines following the 2024 presidential election.

Among likely voters who backed President Donald Trump in 2024, 8% said they now planned to vote for El-Sayed. Among former Vice President Kamala Harris' 2024 voters, 6% said they would support Rogers.

A similar crossover appeared when voters were asked which party they wanted to control the U.S. Senate. Nine percent of likely voters who backed Trump in 2024 said they wanted Democrats to win control of the chamber, while 4% of Harris voters wanted Republicans in charge. Overall, likely voters preferred Democratic control, 52% to 47%.

The debate gives both candidates an opportunity to persuade voters who have not fully settled on their choice. The poll found 15% said they may change their mind about whom they intend to support.

The Fox News survey was conducted Sept. 24-28 by Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research. It included 1,203 registered Michigan voters, including a subsample of 1,028 likely voters. The likely-voter results have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

The candidates will also take the stage after record-breaking spending on television and digital advertising reservations on both sides.

AdImpact data for the general election period currently show $177.7 million in tracked advertising reservations, with Republican-aligned advertisers accounting for $103.5 million and Democratic-aligned advertisers for $74.2 million — a roughly $29.4 million Republican advantage.

Both candidates have agreed to another debate hosted by WXYZ on Oct. 21.