The race for Michigan’s open Senate seat just reached a debate so volatile that the moderator had to step in and plead for them to stop attacking one another. Over a chaotic hour in Grand Rapids, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican former Representative Mike Rogers spent most of the time trading personal barbs rather than focusing on policy. At one point in the event, moderator Rick Albin interjected to tell them, “I’d like to be a part of the debate, too.”
Per NBC News, the Senate seat is currently held by Senator Gary Peters, who isn’t seeking re-election, and both parties are battling to win one of the most competitive races in the country. The pressure is high, as a win here could also impact which party controls the Senate, and the candidates have been locked in, taunting each other for months. This has reportedly included Rogers mocking El-Sayed’s height and El-Sayed challenging Rogers to a football game without pads.
