El-Sayed and Rogers clash in final Michigan Senate debate ahead of midterms

Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed and Republican former Representative Mike Rogers met for their second and final Senate debate in Michigan, as reported by NBC News and CBS News. The debate took place in Detroit less than two weeks before Election Day for the open Senate seat.

Both candidates clashed on issues of trust and policy. El-Sayed accused Rogers of being closely aligned with former President Donald Trump and criticized his ties to corporate interests. Rogers countered by portraying El-Sayed as untrustworthy and too extreme for many Democrats, including some Jewish voters, according to CBS News.

El-Sayed repeatedly called Rogers a "sock puppet" for Trump and linked rising gas and grocery prices to policies associated with the former president. Rogers pushed back against the focus on Trump and accused El-Sayed of a "pattern of deception" regarding his platform. Rogers also indicated he might attend a Trump rally in Michigan.

The race is considered one of the nation's most closely watched contests in the November midterms and could influence control of the Senate. Polls show the contest is neck-and-neck to replace retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters, NBC News noted.

Both candidates sought to appeal to voters concerned about inflation, the war with Iran, and broader policy differences, with Democrats emphasizing Trump’s unpopularity and Republicans highlighting divisions among Democrats on issues like Middle East policy and Medicare for All, CBS News reported.