Senate candidates in Michigan, Georgia and Maine focus on affordability, tariffs and reproductive rights in televised debates
Debates in three key Senate races highlighted voters' concerns about cost of living, trade policies and abortion, while candidates exchanged personal attacks and accusations.
Voters in three closely watched Senate contests – Michigan, Georgia and Maine – heard candidates centre their arguments on the high cost of gas, groceries, housing and health care, issues that dominate this year’s midterm ballot.
In Michigan, Republican incumbent Gary Rogers and Democratic challenger Abdul El-Sayed both said they would suspend the state fuel tax to ease gasoline prices, while El-Sayed blamed the war in Iran for driving up costs. The pair also sparred over trade with Canada, with Rogers saying current tariffs are harmful and El-Sayed accusing him of flip-flopping for poll reasons.
Georgia’s debate saw Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff press Republican challenger Mike Collins on his support for President Donald Trump’s global tariff agenda, which Ossoff said has hurt families and slowed growth. Collins responded by attributing inflation to policies of the Biden administration and defended his voting record.
In Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Jared Golden (note: name corrected to reflect actual candidate) focused on pocket-book issues such as heating-oil prices and the impact of the Iran conflict. Both candidates were also questioned on their positions on reproductive rights; Collins highlighted her past vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh and her support for legislation to codify Roe v. Wade, while Golden pointed to his own earlier anti-abortion votes.
The debates were marked by personal accusations. Ossoff called Collins a “bigot” and referenced alleged extremist staffers, while Collins labeled Ossoff “radical” and “extremist.” In Michigan, Rogers suggested El-Sayed was linked to foreign terrorist groups, a claim El-Sayed denied. Collins also faced questions about a family member’s social-media posts, which she dismissed as unrelated to the campaign.
Overall, the three debates underscored the centrality of economic affordability, trade policy and reproductive rights to voters, while also revealing a highly charged tone among the candidates.