Michigan GOP Senate Candidate Optimistic About Key Democrat Rival

WHO:

CNN - Mike Rogers, presumptive Republican nominee for Senate in Michigan

CNN - Abdul El-Sayed, former public health official and Democratic candidate

CNN - Haley Stevens, Democratic candidate and U.S. Representative

CNN - Gary Peters, retiring Democratic Senator from Michigan

CNN - Roxie Richner, spokeswoman for El-Sayed's campaign

CNN - Alyssa Brouillet, spokeswoman for Rogers' campaign

CNN - Arik Wolk, spokesman for Stevens' campaign

Alternet - George Will, Washington Post columnist

Alternet - Josh Shapiro, incumbent Pennsylvania Governor

Alternet - Hasan Piker, Twitch streamer

WHAT:

CNN - Mike Rogers stated his campaign is in “pretty good shape” against El-Sayed if he wins the Democratic primary.

CNN - El-Sayed has raised more than $3.3 million in a single month.

Alternet - The Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate primary is scheduled for August 4.

Alternet - Trump won Michigan in the 2024 election by 1.4 percent.

WHERE:

CNN - Michigan, specifically mentioning the west and southeast parts of the state.

Alternet - Michigan, as a crucial swing state.

WHEN:

CNN - The Democratic primary is set for August 4.

CNN - Rogers lost a Senate race in 2024 by about 19,000 votes.

Alternet - El-Sayed lost the 2018 gubernatorial primary by 21 points.

WHY:

CNN - Rogers believes El-Sayed is too radical and will lose parts of the state.

CNN - The Stevens campaign argues that El-Sayed is too progressive for Michigan.

Alternet - George Will expresses concern that Democrats are self-destructing in Michigan.

HOW:

CNN - Rogers plans to counter El-Sayed's ads by focusing on his campaign's strengths.

CNN - El-Sayed's campaign claims to have built a coalition of over 10,000 volunteers.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 10:43 UTC)

In Michigan, Mike Rogers, the presumptive Republican nominee for Senate, believes his campaign is in “pretty good shape” against Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who has raised over $3.3 million in just one month. The Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate primary is set for August 4, and both Rogers and the campaign for U.S. Representative Haley Stevens argue that El-Sayed's progressive stance may alienate voters in key parts of the state. Meanwhile, George Will has voiced concerns about the potential for self-destruction among Democrats in Michigan as the election approaches.