Rogers denies agreeing to El‑Sayed debate, calls it 2‑on‑1

Rep. Mike Rogers (R) of Michigan’s 11th congressional district publicly denied any agreement to a televised debate scheduled for Tuesday with his Senate opponent, Democrat Abdul El‑Sayed. Rogers announced hours before the event that he would not attend, a decision he reiterated to CBS News Detroit’s Heath Kalb. Despite Rogers’ statement, the debate aired on Fox 2 Detroit, with El‑Sayed speaking for an hour beside an empty podium while Rogers remained absent.

Rogers told the CBS interview that the debate’s moderator had no authority to compel his participation. He said the moderator had misrepresented the arrangement as a formal, mutually agreed‑upon contest. The moderator’s role, according to Rogers, was to facilitate a discussion that had not been consented to by the Republican candidate, and he criticized the network for proceeding without his approval.

The incident underscores the growing tensions in Michigan’s Senate race, as candidates and media outlets navigate the rules governing televised debates. While El‑Sayed used the platform to outline his policy positions, Rogers’ refusal to appear has drawn attention to the procedural disputes that can arise when candidates disagree on debate logistics. The debate’s legitimacy remains contested, but the event proceeded regardless of Rogers’ objections.