El-Sayed and Rogers spar over Iran and Trump, and toss insults, in Michigan Senate debate

Updated on: October 8, 2026 / 10:30 PM EDT / CBS News

In Thursday's Michigan Senate debate, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed called his opponent "weak," "cowardly" and a "sock puppet for the Trump administration." Republican Mike Rogers called his opponent a "glitchy AI chatbot" who is running a "con" and will "say anything to win."

The two candidates in one of the country's most closely watched midterm contests spent the hourlong debate sparring over the Iran war, the trade war with Canada, immigration, healthcare policy and cost-of-living issues. They also tossed insults across the stage in nearly every exchange, accusing each other of flip-flopping and financial entanglements.

After the only commercial break, debate moderator Rick Albin of WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids said the two men were arguing even when they were off-air. At various points, Albin pleaded with the candidates to "work with me" and said: "I appreciate your passion, but please, let's try to keep this orderly."

El-Sayed secured the Democratic nomination after a bitter primary in which the former health official clashed with the party's moderate wing over his support for single-payer healthcare and his opposition to U.S. military aid for Israel. A former congressman, Rogers won the GOP…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/