Home · Politics · Oct 22 archive

Michigan Senate Candidates Clash Over Muslim Brotherhood and Gun Control

Updated 10:11 PM ET · 5:03 PM ETConfirmed

Politics Desk

In Short: In a heated debate, Michigan Senate candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers clashed over El-Sayed's alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Rogers' stance on defunding the police.

In a heated Senate debate, Michigan candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers clashed over El-Sayed's alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Rogers' stance on defunding the police.

Rogers accused El-Sayed of deleting social media content about defunding the police, a progressive stance that circulated among far-left Democrats in 2020 after the death of George Floyd.

Rogers also cited a 2012 letter El-Sayed signed, urging Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood president to 'purge the media and police,' a revelation previously reported by The Washington Free Beacon.

El-Sayed responded to Rogers' fundraising claims, saying it was 'curious' that Rogers 'does not want to talk about the $64,000 he took from DTE' or the funding he received 'from big pharma' while in Congress.

Rogers questioned El-Sayed's loyalty to the U.S., stating, 'My opponent can't even condemn the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps], which is the terrorist enforcement arm of Iran, and doesn't believe Iran is any more dangerous than Israel. This is an absolute nonstarter.'

El-Sayed and Rogers are in a toss-up race, with the growing animosity between them dominating the contest's fourth-quarter dynamics.

The most recent survey, conducted by Rasmussen Reports from October 12-14 among 798 likely Michigan voters, found El-Sayed leading Rogers 46 percent to 44 percent.

When asked about AI regulation, El-Sayed briefly mentioned he would support having 'democratically appointed folks on the board of these AI corporations,' citing what he described as an existential threat to the workforce.

Rogers criticized El-Sayed's policies, saying, 'So think of all of the three things he just talked about. Put money in your pockets. There's nothing behind it. When his Democratic socialist-aligned policies are engaged, you'll be lucky to have a damn pair of pants when you're done.'

El-Sayed accused Rogers of promoting war, stating, 'Mike Rogers has been promoting this war since before he was in Congress. He’s got a war for everything, and he won’t back off the war now.'

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• Rogers quickly fired back, reiterating a moment from their first debate when El-Sayed refused to answer whether Israel or Iran posed a greater threat to the U.S. "My opponent can't even condemn the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps], which is the terrorist enforcement arm of Iran, and doesn't believe Iran is any more dangerous than Israel. This is an absolute nonstarter," Rogers said.
• Michigan’s Senate candidates clash in their final debate, with Republican Mike Rogers questioning Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s loyalty to the U.S.
• “He did call for defunding the police,” Rogers said of his Democratic rival.
• "If you don't believe me, I want you to pay attention. On Sunday, when Donald Trump comes here at the invitation of Mike Rogers to remind you that, in fact, Donald Trump is on the ballot through Mike Rogers. They are hip to hip on this war, and you are paying the cost," he added, referring to one of Rogers' upcoming campaign events.
• "He keeps raising this question about this association with the organization," El-Sayed said.
• Open menu NTD Television search search Trailer 10 10 0:00 / 0:00 Highlights From Final Debate Between Rogers and El-Sayed NTD News Today Oct-22-2026 A final debate took place in Michigan on Wednesday in one of the most closely watched Senate races in the nation—Mike Rogers versus Abdul El-Sayed.

What's still developing

• "As a matter of fact, he asked the Muslim Brotherhood head, Morsi, in Egypt to defund the police there, too," Rogers added, referring to the former Egyptian president associated with the group.
• Senate candidate, clashed with El-Sayed over the personal barbs, accusations and fierce divides that have defined one of the country's most anticipated Senate elections.
• Meanwhile, El-Sayed has painted Rogers as an out-of-touch millionaire who would be a “ sock-puppet ” in lock-step with the agenda of President Donald Trump if elected to the Senate.
• “I’d like to be a part of the debate, too,” Albin said.
• “I worked in a bipartisan way with my ranking Democrat. We sat down over the course of the summer and we cut out $11 billion of a $78 billion budget,” Rogers said.
• “He gets money from people who support openly Hamas, Hezbollah, al-Qaida. His family was even included in those discussions,” Rogers said.
• Rogers is making an unprecedented play for Michigan’s black voters, according to Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), who told Politico that Rogers is engaging the community “harder and more successfully” than any Republican she can remember.
• The Democratic nominee is facing off against Republican Mike Rogers in the November 3 election for the seat being vacated by Senator Gary Peters.
• Continue reading … ‘A DANGER’ — CEO sounds alarm over rapidly advancing AI, potential for ‘large-scale attacks.’ Continue reading … GLOVES OFF — Walz looms large in final Minnesota governor debate as candidates clash in must-see moments.
• Continue reading … MIDTERM BATTLE — GOP senator breaks with Trump as Dem stakes out surprising positions in Kansas debate.
• Kennedy faced over his Catholic faith during his 1960 presidential campaign.
• "He's got a war for everything, and he won't back off the war now. He supports this war," El-Sayed said.

Sources

• Fox Newslink
• Michiganadvancelink
• Michiganpubliclink
• NTD Newslink
• Newsweeklink
• Straight Arrowlink
• Theoaklandpresslink
• Wfmdlink
• Dailywirelink
• Yemenonlinelink
• WarpBeat — background on El-Sayed and Rogers Engage in Heated Debate Over Muslim Brotherhood and Gun Control link
• WarpBeat — background on El-Sayed and Rogers Clash Over Muslim Brotherhood and Gun Control link
• Newsweek — video link