{"id":2649261,"date":"2026-08-25T10:48:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T14:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rogers-agrees-to-debate-after-el-sayed-repeatedly-challenged-him\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T11:12:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T15:12:00","slug":"rogers-agrees-to-debate-after-el-sayed-repeatedly-challenged-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rogers-agrees-to-debate-after-el-sayed-repeatedly-challenged-him\/","title":{"rendered":"Rogers agrees to debate after el Sayed repeatedly challenged him"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frogers-agrees-to-debate-after-el-sayed-repeatedly-challenged-him%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2649261&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Mike Rogers, a Republican candidate, has agreed to a debate with Democrat Abdul el Sayed for their Michigan Senate race in October, which is the first scheduled debate before the general election. El Sayed has challenged Rogers to five debates this fall,but there is uncertainty about additional debates. Rogers called his opponent a &#8220;conman&#8221; and expressed readiness to debate on October 8, hosted by WOOD TV8. El Sayed criticized Rogers for not committing to further debates with local Detroit stations and the Michigan Debate Commission, mocking him as &#8220;Mike Dodgers.&#8221; Polls show el Sayed leading Rogers by 7 points among voters. Both candidates are vying to replace retiring Senator Gary Peters.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republican <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-rogers\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1022\">Mike Rogers<\/a> has agreed to debate Democrat <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abdul-el-sayed\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"23138\">Abdul el Sayed<\/a> in October as their <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\">Senate<\/a> race in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"655\">Michigan<\/a> heats up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since winning his primary, el Sayed has repeatedly challenged his opponent to five fall debates. The two candidates have recently sparred over scheduling the debates.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4699108\/rogers-agree-debate-el-sayed-michigan-senate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Rogers agrees to debate after el Sayed repeatedly challenged him<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4699074\/ralph-norman-darline-graham-nordone-south-carolina-primary-poll\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Ralph Norman erases Darline Graham Nordone\u2019s lead on final day of primary: Poll<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4698901\/trump-loyalists-endorsements-midterm-primaries\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>When Trump endorses loyalists, they don\u2019t always win<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Oct. 8 debate, to be hosted by WOOD TV8, is the first scheduled debate before the general election.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe moment we\u2019re in calls for a fighter, not a fraud,\u201d Rogers <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/rogersforsenate.com\/news\/mike-rogers-to-debate-conman-abdul-el-sayed-on-october-8\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/rogersforsenate.com\/news\/mike-rogers-to-debate-conman-abdul-el-sayed-on-october-8\">said in a statement<\/a> released by his campaign on Monday. \u201cI look forward to taking the stage against conman Abdul El-Sayed to make him answer to the voters for his lies and extremism\u2013and to make my case about the need for change after a quarter century of single-party rule that has ravaged our schools, decimated our manufacturing industry, and skyrocketed energy prices. See you there, Abdul!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s unclear how many more debates there will be in the race before Nov. 3.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El Sayed slammed Rogers for not committing to additional debate invites from two television stations in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/detroit\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1935\">Detroit<\/a> and the nonpartisan Michigan Debate Commission, dubbing the Republican \u201cMike Dodgers.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLooks like Mike Dodgers is dodging the Fox 2 and WDIV debate invites? I guess it takes Mike a little bit more time to prepare,\u201d el Sayed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/abdulforsenate.com\/2026\/08\/mike-dodgers-mike-rogers-continues-to-dodge-multiple-debate-invites\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/abdulforsenate.com\/2026\/08\/mike-dodgers-mike-rogers-continues-to-dodge-multiple-debate-invites\/\">said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cMike, I\u2019m happy to wipe the floor with you on October 8th, but in case you think we forgot, I challenged you to five debates. I\u2019ve accepted every single debate invite. On September 15th, I\u2019m showing up to Fox 2\u2019s debate and they\u2019re prepared to run with an empty podium whether you have the courage to show up or not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fox 2 news anchor Roop Raj <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/rooprajfox2\/status\/2092028738309689362\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/rooprajfox2\/status\/2092028738309689362\">confirmed<\/a> Rogers has yet to join el Sayed in committing to the Sept. 15 debate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4694278\/rogers-el-sayed-feud-over-scheduling-debate-mike-dodgers\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4694278\/rogers-el-sayed-feud-over-scheduling-debate-mike-dodgers\/\">ROGERS AND EL SAYED FEUD OVER SCHEDULING DEBATE: \u2018MIKE DODGERS\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recent polling shows the Democratic nominee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4693319\/abdul-el-sayed-outperforms-mike-rogers-michigan-senate-poll\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4693319\/abdul-el-sayed-outperforms-mike-rogers-michigan-senate-poll\/\">outpacing<\/a> his Republican counterpart by 7 points, with el Sayed at 46% and Rogers at 39%. Nine percent of voters who answered the Susquehanna Polling and Research survey earlier this month said they are undecided, and 4% said they prefer another candidate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both candidates are running to replace retiring Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gary-peters\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1182\">Gary Peters<\/a> (D-MI), who has held the seat for two six-year terms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rogers to debate el Sayed in October amid race tensions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2649262,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-collage-722b3vwa7-1787169607268-e1787170114554.jpg?1787652287&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[5877,3896,81734,5894,13811],"class_list":["post-2649261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-agreement","tag-debate","tag-el-sayed","tag-politics","tag-rogers"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-collage-722b3vwa7-1787169607268-e1787170114554.jpg?1787652287&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2649261"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2649265,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649261\/revisions\/2649265"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2649262"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2649261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2649261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2649261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}