A Michigan Senate debate will go ahead in Detroit on Tuesday evening with an empty podium reserved for Republican candidate Mike Rogers, after his campaign failed to confirm whether he would attend. Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed has committed to taking part in the FOX 2 event.
The debate, hosted by The Pulse, will be moderated by Roop Raj and is due to begin at 7pm on September 15. Organisers said the invitation to Mr Rogers remained open despite receiving no response to further correspondence.
Michigan Senate debate to proceed with open podium
FOX 2 and the Michigan Debate Committee invited both candidates on August 5, the day after Michigan’s primary election. The El-Sayed campaign accepted the invitation the following day, while the Rogers campaign initially acknowledged receiving it but did not confirm its participation.
As a result, the broadcaster plans to leave an open podium for Mr Rogers during the hour-long debate. The format follows a similar decision earlier this summer, when FOX 2 left a vacant podium for Jocelyn Benson during the Democratic primary race for governor.
Mr Rogers and Mr El-Sayed have both agreed to appear in a separate debate hosted by WOOD TV8 on October 8 in western Michigan. A statement from Mr Rogers’ campaign described that event as the first debate of the general election campaign.
How to watch the Detroit Senate debate
The debate will be broadcast and streamed by FOX 2 from 7pm to 8pm, followed by two hours of online coverage and analysis. It will be available through the FOX Local app, the broadcaster’s website and its Facebook, YouTube and TikTok channels.
Viewers will also be able to submit questions by text message to (248) 200-5042. Questions will be taken from both the public and members of an in-studio audience.
The contest is being closely watched nationally because Michigan’s open Senate seat could influence control of the US Senate. The seat is being vacated by Democratic Senator Gary Peters, who is retiring.
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority. Michigan has not elected a Republican to the Senate since 1994, but Mr Rogers is seen by his party as having a stronger chance after losing the 2024 Senate race to Elissa Slotkin by fewer than 20,000 votes.
Mr El-Sayed narrowly defeated moderate US Representative Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary in August. The general election is scheduled for November 3.
