Senate candidates in Maine, Michigan and Georgia trade personal attacks
In Michigan, Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed argued through a commercial break on 8 October, while in Georgia and Maine candidates clashed over tariffs and ICE on the same night.
Photo: The Globe and MailKey points
Senate candidates in Michigan, Georgia and Maine debated on 8 October 2026, trading personal attacks over tariffs, ICE and foreign policy.
Senate candidates in Michigan, Georgia and Maine debated on 8 October 2026, trading personal attacks in the final weeks of campaigning ahead of the November elections. In Michigan, Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed argued so intensely that moderator Rick Albin said he had never seen an argument continue through a commercial break in 30 years of moderating debates.
The Michigan debate mattered because the seat is open following Democratic Senator Gary Peters's retirement, and both parties see the race as pivotal to deciding which party controls the Senate in November. Rogers, a former congressman, lost a previous Senate race to Elissa Slotkin by just under 20,000 votes two years ago. El-Sayed defeated Representative Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary by less than a percentage point.
Michigan debate turns personal
Each candidate taunted the other over real estate: Rogers owns a home in Florida, and El-Sayed's wife owns property in the United Arab Emirates. Rogers also distanced himself from Trump, criticizing immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota as "probably not appropriate" and releasing an ad criticizing tariffs on Canada, saying "we need to end this tariff war now."
Foreign policy clashes dominate
Rogers said the war with Iran could not end if Iran still had nuclear weapons capability, arguing its nuclear program had been set back by roughly 20 years. El-Sayed said the war could end through diplomacy, calling it "completely unnecessary." Rogers accused El-Sayed of failing to condemn Hamas, Hezbollah and the Muslim Brotherhood; El-Sayed replied, "I've condemned that," and accused Rogers of turning the issue into political theater.
In Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and Republican Representative Mike Collins debated for the first time. Ossoff repeatedly asked why Collins supported tariffs that contributed to rising consumer goods costs, saying, "Still have not heard an explanation for the tariffs." Collins did not directly answer the question. The debate framed the contest around the policies of the current and former presidents.
Georgia and Maine debates
In Maine, Senator Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson argued over whether funding for body cameras for ICE agents helps reform the agency. Collins said, "What I secured funding for were body-worn cameras, so that we would know exactly what happened in these confrontations." Jackson responded that the cameras "don't even have to be turned over unless it's in the best interest of ICE," citing legislation passed in June providing $70 billion for immigration enforcement.
Jackson also said he would not support Senator Chuck Schumer serving again as Senate Democratic leader. Collins defended her decision to seek a sixth term. In Michigan, Trump posted on Truth Social late on 7 October referring to El-Sayed as "Mohammed" and calling him "a RADICAL Extremist, Terrorist Sympathizer"; El-Sayed, born in the United States to Egyptian immigrant parents, said Trump knows his name.
After the debate, Trump said Rogers "completely obliterated" El-Sayed, calling him "Mohammad El-Sayed" and writing, "If this was a fight they would have stopped it." Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer appeared with El-Sayed for the first time since she endorsed Stevens in the primary. The candidates now head into the final weeks of campaigning before the November elections.
Frequently asked questions
What happened at the Michigan Senate debate?
Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed traded personal attacks and talked over each other during a debate on 8 October 2026, continuing to argue through a commercial break. Moderator Rick Albin said he had never seen that in 30 years of moderating debates.
What was debated in Georgia and Maine?
In Georgia, Jon Ossoff pressed Mike Collins on tariffs without getting a direct answer. In Maine, Susan Collins and Troy Jackson argued over ICE body camera funding, with Jackson saying the tapes do not have to be turned over unless in ICE's best interest.
What did Trump say about the Michigan candidates?
Trump posted on Truth Social late on 7 October calling El-Sayed a "RADICAL Extremist, Terrorist Sympathizer." After the debate he said Rogers "completely obliterated" El-Sayed and wrote, "If this was a fight they would have stopped it."
How this story was checked
- Fact-checked against 3 cited pages. 22 figures, dates and quotations in this story were found on the pages it cites; 2 passages that could not be checked were cut before publication.
- Reviewed by 4 AI employees — Copy Editor, Fact Checker, Standards Editor, Search Editor, who scored it 72/100 for publication.
Pages checked (3 of 3)
- theglobeandmail.comread and checked
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- nbcnews.comread and checked
Written by Kaer from public reporting. Checked 9 October 2026.
