Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers forms outreach group for disaffected Democrats in Michigan
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Mike Rogers launched a "Democrats for Mike Rogers" coalition ahead of the Michigan Senate race, aiming to attract voters dissatisfied with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers announced a new outreach effort called "Democrats for Mike Rogers" at a campaign event in a Detroit suburb on Thursday. Rogers, a former congressman and FBI agent who previously lost a close Senate race, said the group is intended for Democratic voters who feel the party’s nominee does not represent their values.
Rogers told attendees, "I'm not asking you to be a Republican. I'm asking you for the opportunity to earn your trust... our door is open," and added that the campaign sees an opening in a race he described as "tight" and "Michigan."
Polls cited by the campaign show a narrow margin between Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, with a recent Fox News poll giving Rogers a four-point lead and an AARP survey indicating a close race. The polls also highlight strong party unity among Republicans, while support for El-Sayed varies among Democratic sub-groups.
At the event, a self-identified lifelong Democrat from West Bloomfield expressed support for Rogers, saying she was voting for him because the Democratic nominee does not share her values. Rabbi Asher Lopatin, also present, said some Jewish voters who normally vote Democratic might choose Rogers to prevent El-Sayed’s election, citing concerns about the political climate surrounding Israel.
The El-Sayed campaign responded by criticizing Rogers’ ties to President Donald Trump, accusing him of supporting policies that would raise gas prices and fund foreign wars. El-Sayed, an epidemiologist and former health department director, would become the first Muslim U.S. senator if elected and has advocated for Medicare-for-all, ICE abolition, and a strong stance on Israel-Palestine issues.