Michigan Senate candidates clash over Iran war, gas taxes and tariffs in first debate

Grand Rapids, Michigan – In the first of two scheduled debates, Senate candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers debated issues ranging from the war in Iran to gas-tax policy and U.S.-Canada tariffs. Both candidates said they would support a temporary pause on the federal gas tax, but the discussion quickly turned to the underlying causes of high fuel prices.

El-Sayed blamed the conflict in Iran, accusing Rogers of supporting the war, while Rogers countered by criticizing El-Sayed’s endorsement of Medicare for All, saying it would raise taxes and gas prices. Rogers described the proposal as “a disaster.”

Tariffs imposed by the previous administration on Canadian imports were also a focal point. Rogers said he had spoken with the White House and the Commerce Department about eliminating duties that he said cost Michigan households an estimated $5,600 annually. El-Sayed argued that Rogers’ shift on the issue was driven by poll numbers rather than policy.

The candidates exchanged personal barbs, including references to Rogers’ Florida home and property owned by El-Sayed’s wife in the United Arab Emirates. Moderator Rick Albin asked the candidates to tone down the attacks.

On immigration enforcement, Rogers defended a recent federal operation in Minneapolis as “probably not appropriate,” citing his experience as a former FBI agent. El-Sayed declined to answer a question about whether Israel or Iran posed a greater threat, describing the situation as a “ridiculous hypothetical” and emphasizing domestic spending priorities.

The debate highlighted the broader strategic stakes of the race, with the open Senate seat seen as pivotal for partisan control of the chamber. El-Sayed, backed by progressive figures, emerged from a contentious primary, while Rogers seeks to reclaim a Senate seat for Republicans for the first time since 1994.