El-Sayed, Rogers trade barbs at final Michigan Senate debate

On October 21, 2026, Abdul El-Sayed's lead in Michigan's Senate race against Republican Mike Rogers narrowed to just two points among likely voters, according to a new Marist poll conducted between October 15 and 18. The poll surveyed 1,185 registered voters, with El-Sayed leading Rogers by 50 percent to 48 percent among likely voters, within the survey's 4.3-point margin of error. During their final debate on Wednesday night, both candidates engaged in contentious exchanges but were notably more restrained than during their first debate two weeks prior. The debate centered around allegations about ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, with Rogers accusing El-Sayed and El-Sayed denying any such affiliations. The heated clash also touched upon issues like cost-of-living concerns and Iran, with each candidate attempting to tie the other to political movements or figures that some voters may find unappealing.