PODCAST:
Sept. 3, 2026 ~ Former FBI Agent, Congressman, and Senate candidate Mike Rogers discusses his recent Bridge Michigan op-ed arguing that Michigan’s education crisis is the civil rights issue of our time and explains what changes he believes are needed.
DETROIT, MICH. ~ Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers is dismissing criticism over his lack of commitment to a Sept. 15 debate hosted by Detroit’s Fox 2, calling the controversy “made-up nonsense” and suggesting the station has inserted itself into the campaign.
During an interview Wednesday on 760 WJR’s All Talk with Kevin Dietz, Rogers said his campaign has already agreed to two debates and a candidate forum, arguing that the schedule closely mirrors past Senate races.
“We’ve got two debates scheduled. I think we have a forum scheduled as well,” Rogers said. “This is pretty darn near exactly the schedule for the ’24 race.”
Rogers also pushed back on Fox 2’s handling of the issue, saying, “I have no idea what happened at Fox 2. I think they’ve decided they’re part of the race somehow.”
The comments come as Fox 2 and Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed continue to press Rogers to decide whether he will participate in the Detroit debate.
The dispute has become a focus for the El-Sayed campaign, which argues voters should have another opportunity to hear directly from both candidates before Election Day. Fox 2 says it invited Rogers and El-Sayed shortly after the Aug. 4 primary and set a Sept. 1 response deadline. According to the station, El-Sayed accepted the invitation, while Rogers and his campaign had not responded as of the deadline.
Fox 2 has said the Sept. 15 debate will proceed regardless, with a podium available should Rogers choose to attend.
