Michigan Senate Rivals Trade Barbs Over Iran War, Tariffs and Gas Prices in First Debate

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers clashed over the war in Iran, gas prices, tariffs and health care Thursday in their first Michigan Senate debate, a session that NBC News, Fox News and CBS News all described as marked by personal attacks. The race for the open seat could help decide which party controls the Senate.

The debate in Grand Rapids was hosted by WOOD, an NBC affiliate. According to Fox News, it was the first time the two shared a stage after Rogers declined a debate last month hosted by FOX 2 Detroit, citing concerns about the moderator's impartiality. A second debate is planned, NBC News reported.

Where El-Sayed stood

El-Sayed cast Rogers as a loyalist to President Donald Trump who changes positions when his poll numbers slip. According to NBC News, he accused Rogers of cheering on the Iran war and said high gas prices show the country is not winning. CBS News reported that he called the conflict a “stupid war” and said Rogers has a direct line to the president but is not using it.

On tariffs, El-Sayed cited a study he said shows Michigan households paying $5,600 a year because of Canadian tariff policy. He backed a diplomatic solution on Iran, pointing to the Obama-era nuclear agreement, CBS News said. Fox News reported he is open to federal price controls on domestically produced oil, and he defended his Medicare for All proposal, saying families who want private insurance could keep it.

Asked whether Israel or Iran is the bigger threat to the U.S., El-Sayed called the question a ridiculous hypothetical and said both have proven dangerous in their own ways. Fox News reported he would not support providing defensive weapons to Israel if it were attacked.

Where Rogers stood

Rogers portrayed El-Sayed as a con man making promises that would require higher taxes or costs. NBC News reported he said Medicare for All would push people off private insurance. Fox News said he also questioned El-Sayed's medical credentials, and El-Sayed rejected the attacks.

Rogers, who initially backed the war, said it should now wrap up because Iran's nuclear program and military have been severely weakened, while saying Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. He said he spoke with the White House and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about a deal with Canada and wants the tariff dispute to end. Rather than price controls, Fox News reported, he favors temporary gas tax relief, diesel rebates and a pause on diesel exports.

On immigration, Rogers said this year's Minneapolis operation, in which federal agents killed two U.S. citizens, was “probably not appropriate,” according to NBC News and CBS News. He described himself as a staunch supporter of Israel and said he would withdraw support only if Israel talked about using nuclear weapons, CBS News reported.

Where they agreed, and the personal attacks

Both candidates said they would support pausing the federal gas tax, according to NBC News and CBS News. Both also questioned the tariff war with Canada.

Much of the evening was taken up by insults and finances. El-Sayed criticized Rogers over a Florida home, and Rogers raised property owned by El-Sayed's wife in the United Arab Emirates. Fox News reported Rogers denied owning any yachts. CBS News said Rogers criticized El-Sayed for not issuing a statement on the third anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack; El-Sayed said he had condemned it but would not make it political theater.

Moderator Rick Albin repeatedly asked them to rein in the attacks. He said that in 30 years of moderating he had never seen candidates keep arguing through a commercial break, Fox News reported.

Why it matters for Michigan voters

The candidates' answers touch on costs voters face directly: gas prices tied to the Iran war, tariffs on trade with Canada, and the future of private health insurance. Michigan borders Canada, and NBC News noted that new tariffs of 15% to 50% on $20 billion worth of U.S. exports to Canada took effect last month, making trade a central issue in the state.

The race is tight. A late-September Fox News poll showed El-Sayed ahead 50% to 49% among likely voters, which Fox called a statistical dead heat. CBS News said most polls show a razor-thin contest. Republicans have not won a Senate seat in Michigan since 1994, according to NBC News. Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is not seeking re-election.

Around Prague, based on reporting by NBC News, Fox News, CBS News