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Mike Rogers, a Republican candidate in Michigan's U.S. Senate race, has defended his decision not to attend a Sept. 15 televised event with his Democratic opponent Abdul El-Sayed by claiming he never agreed to participate and accusing the moderator of bias. The event was described as a town hall rather than a debate by Rogers' campaign, which also stated that the station exhibited favoritism toward El-Sayed. Both candidates are scheduled to face off in two debates on Oct. 8 and Oct. 21.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Republican Mike Rogers is defending his decision to skip a Sept. 15 televised debate with Democratic opponent Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's U.S. Senate race, stating that he never agreed to participate and accusing the moderator of favoritism. The event, which Rogers calls "not a debate but a town hall," was organized by FOX 2 Detroit after inviting both candidates on Aug. 5, with El-Sayed accepting immediately while Rogers' campaign says they never agreed to attend. The Senate race between El-Sayed and Rogers is considered one of the most closely watched contests in the country, rated as a toss-up by the UVA Center for Politics, with significant implications for control of the upper chamber given Democratic Sen. Gary Peters' retirement. Rogers' campaign accused the station of favoritism, suggesting the moderator had already taken sides against him.
Written for “Mike Rogers Controversy” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.25, but every quote it verified points right, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 13686: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-09-16
Republican Mike Rogers is defending his decision not to attend a Sept. 15 televised event with Democratic opponent Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's U.S. Senate race, saying he never agreed to participate and accusing the moderator of favoritism.
asserted
he → defend → favoritism
We never agreed to it," Rogers said in a one-on-one with CBS News Detroit.
asserted
Rogers → agree → News
El-Sayed took part in Tuesday's event on FOX 2 Detroit.
asserted
Sayed → take → FOX
The station said it invited both candidates on Aug. 5 and that El-Sayed accepted the next day.
asserted
Sayed → say → Aug.
Rogers' campaign says it never agreed to attend.
asserted
it → say → ?
The general election matchup between El-Sayed and Rogers is one of the most closely watched contests in the country.
asserted
matchup → watch → country
UVA Center for Politics rates the race as a toss-up.
asserted
Center → rat → up
The Senate seat, being opened up by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, is a must-win for control of the upper chamber.
asserted
seat → open → chamber
Rogers' campaign released a statement accusing the station of favoritism and suggesting the moderator had already taken sides.
asserted
moderator → release → sides
Rogers made the same argument in his interview.
asserted
Rogers → make → interview
"When you have someone who's already picked their candidate, you can't have a two-on-one event in a TV studio," he said.
asserted
he → have → studio
El-Sayed said Rogers was avoiding a confrontation over his record and his support for President Trump.
asserted
Rogers → say → Trump
"If I were him, I wouldn't debate me either," El-Sayed said after Tuesday's event.
asserted
Sayed → debate → event
He said Rogers did not want to answer questions about tariffs involving Canada or the cost of war, and he criticized Rogers for making time to speak at a Republican convention in Dallas while turning down the Detroit event.
asserted
he → say → event
Rogers rejected the suggestion that he had broken a commitment.
asserted
he → reject → commitment
"We never had it on our schedule," he said.
asserted
he → have → schedule
He also objected to the station's plan to leave a podium open for him, calling that approach "highly unprofessional."
Rogers said voters will get their chance to see the candidates side by side.
"You're gonna get two debates right here in Michigan," he told CBS Detroit.
asserted
he → object → Michigan
Both candidates have agreed to debates on Oct. 8 and Oct. 21.
asserted
candidates → agree → Oct.
El-Sayed had pressed for more.
asserted
Sayed → press → more
He made his case at a Detroit rally on Sunday while El-Sayed laid out his priorities on " ."
on Aug. 5, the day CBS News projected he had won the Democratic primary, CBS Detroit reported at the time.
asserted
Detroit → make → time
Most recently, RogersEl-Sayed is meeting with Democratic senators at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
asserted
Sayed → meet → Wednesday
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