GOP Senate Candidate Mike Rogers Eyes Crossover Votes in Michigan

Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers stated that he is making inroads with Black and Jewish voters, constituencies traditionally aligned with Democrats, in his bid to unseat opponent Abdul El-Sayed for Michigan's open Senate seat. The race is considered pivotal for control of the Senate in the upcoming Congress.

A recent Fox News poll indicated a tight contest, with El-Sayed and Rogers virtually tied among likely voters, within the poll's margin of error.

Reaching for Broader Support

Rogers expressed optimism about attracting crossover votes, particularly from Black and Jewish Democrats in areas such as Detroit, Pontiac, and Brooklyn. "We are going to what would normally be traditional Democrat coalitions, and we're getting such a great response," Rogers told ABC News Live anchor Linsey Davis. He believes this outreach is key to his victory and distinguishes his campaign.

Despite Rogers' assertion, the notes indicate there is no specific polling data available to confirm his gains within these demographic groups. Former President Barack Obama is scheduled to campaign with El-Sayed in Detroit, and former Vice President Kamala Harris has previously appeared with him.

Economic Concerns and Policy Differences

When questioned about the economy, Rogers diverged from President Donald Trump's positive assessment. "I am really worried. People are so frustrated. They're frustrated about prices. They're frustrated about inflation," he said, declining to directly evaluate Trump's economic performance. Rogers asserted his ability to influence the president on economic matters, stating, "I'm going to be able to go in, sit down, talk to him about the things that work for Michigan."

Rogers has also voiced opposition to Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods, deeming them "problematic" for Michigan's integrated auto industry. He highlighted how vehicles like the Jeep Cherokee cross the US-Canada border multiple times during production. "Let's get the Canadian deal done, or settled, or postponed, or let's negotiate, but don't put the tariffs on right now with all the other things, all the struggles that we have going on," Rogers urged. Data from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation suggests Michigan households face an average additional cost of $5,600 annually due to tariffs since January 2025, the highest impact of any state.

Election Integrity and Campaign Messaging

Rogers defended his earlier suggestion to deploy off-duty police officers as poll-watchers in Detroit. "I don't know how having a poll-watcher, which we've had for decades in the state, would discourage anyone from voting. I certainly would not encourage them to be discouraged in voting. I want it easy to vote, hard to cheat. That's it," he stated. He has previously questioned the outcome of his 2024 loss to Senator Elissa Slotkin, despite a lack of evidence of wrongdoing.

Regarding his past comments about El-Sayed, Rogers clarified his stance, stating, "It's not about how you pray, it is not about any of that. It is about how you think, it's about what your ideology is." El-Sayed has denied accusations of terrorism and characterized such claims as Islamophobic.

Rogers also addressed a perceived misconception that he is a "Washington insider," noting his decade-long departure from Congress to work in the private cybersecurity sector. He previously served seven terms in the House of Representatives, including as chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

Personal Reflections

When asked about the fairest criticism against him, Rogers humorously replied, "I love my wife too much." His wife, Kristi, who was present during the interview, vouched for his commitment, stating, "when Rogers says he's going to do something, he does it."