GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Senate hopefuls Abdul El-Sayed (D) and Mike Rogers (R) traded personal shots Thursday night here in their first face-to-face general-election clash.
The hour-long televised forum opened on rising gas prices before sharpening into exchanges over the war in Iran, health care and the national debt. Both said they favor a temporary federal gas-tax pause while disagreeing on the war’s economic impact and military results.
Rogers defended U.S. operations against Iran and accused El-Sayed of misleading voters. El-Sayed criticized the war’s effect at the pump and said Rogers was shifting positions to climb in the polls.
On health care, Rogers attacked El-Sayed’s Medicare for All stance and warned of higher taxes. El-Sayed said his plan would lower costs for working households while keeping private coverage as an option.
Later El-Sayed pushed higher taxes on billionaires as a debt fix; Rogers blamed Washington’s spending habits. Fact checks noted clashes on tariffs and outside-group ties as well.
A second debate is set for Detroit on Oct. 21. For local voters, Thursday offered an early, combative look at the November Senate choice.
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