On Wednesday, the Detroit News announced its endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers in the U.S. Senate race in Michigan, citing his extensive background in Congress, the military, and the FBI.
“Mike Rogers is undoubtedly the best candidate for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat and earns our endorsement.”
The editorial board noted that after spending 14 years in the House, including a role as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rogers is well-prepared for this Senate position.
At 63, Rogers left Congress in 2015 after serving seven terms in a mid-Michigan district. Following that, he turned to the private sector, focusing on cybersecurity. His earlier career included time as an Army officer and an FBI agent working on organized crime cases.
The editorial suggested that Rogers’s experience and demeanor could allow him to become a significant asset in the Senate relatively quickly.
In contrast, the newspaper criticized his Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, for lacking the necessary government and policymaking experience.
El-Sayed, 41, has a background in public health, having led the Detroit Health Department and later directing Wayne County’s Department of Health, Human, and Veterans Services. He holds both medical and public health degrees and has taught epidemiology at Columbia University, although he isn’t licensed to practice medicine.
The editorial board also pointed out that El-Sayed has attempted to obscure parts of his history by deleting social media posts and around 100 YouTube videos prior to the election. This made it tricky for voters to grasp his true beliefs.
Moreover, concerns were raised regarding El-Sayed’s connections to the far-left of the Democratic Party, particularly his support from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and associations with socialist figures. His stance on Israel and his campaign partnership with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker also drew criticism.
The editorial did acknowledge that Trump’s endorsement of Rogers could pose a challenge, as recent polling showed Trump is quite unpopular among Michigan voters. However, the board encouraged voters to focus on the entirety of the six-year Senate term rather than using the election as a means to express their discontent with Trump, who would leave office two years into the term.
