---
title: "Rogers, El-Sayed Clash on Costs, Iran in Southfield Senate Debate"
url: https://www.heredetroitmi.com/2026/10/22/rogers-el-sayed-final-senate-debate-southfield/
date: 2026-10-22T05:25:57-04:00
modified: 2026-10-22T05:25:57-04:00
author: "Melody Magana"
categories: ["Politics"]
site: "HERE Detroit"
attribution: "HERE Detroit"
---

# Rogers, El-Sayed Clash on Costs, Iran in Southfield Senate Debate

> SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Michigan's two major U.S. Senate nominees used their last debate of the campaign Wednesday night in Southfield, Mich., to trade sharp attacks over credibility, the cost of living and the conflict with Iran, with early in-person voting set to open Saturday. Republican Mike Rogers accused Democrat Abdul El-Sayed of misleading voters about

*Source: [HERE Detroit](https://www.heredetroitmi.com/2026/10/22/rogers-el-sayed-final-senate-debate-southfield/) — October 22, 2026 by Melody Magana*

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Michigan’s two major U.S. Senate nominees used their last debate of the campaign Wednesday night in Southfield, Mich., to trade sharp attacks over credibility, the cost of living and the conflict with Iran, with early in-person voting set to open Saturday.

Republican Mike Rogers accused Democrat Abdul El-Sayed of misleading voters about his background and his ties to outside groups. El-Sayed answered that Rogers has a long record of being wrong and told him to own that record.

On prices, El-Sayed tied higher costs to the war in Iran and called for a war powers resolution. Rogers pushed for permanent tax cuts and more domestic energy output, and warned that letting Iran obtain a nuclear weapon would send gas prices soaring.

The two also took up immigration, the trade dispute with Canada and the price of health insurance and prescriptions. Rogers said he would work with Democrats on housing costs, while El-Sayed said blanket tariffs from President Trump have hurt the state.

Their earlier Oct. 8 meeting in Grand Rapids covered the economy plus AI, foreign policy and medical care. A Mitchell Research and Communications poll taken Oct. 1 showed El-Sayed at 45.6% and Rogers at 41.4%, with a 3.8-point margin of error. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.