The 2026 Michigan Senate race: Abdul El-Sayed vs. Mike Rogers

Active · last development Sep 23, 2026: “Abdul El-Sayed Backed Muslim Brotherhood Purge of Egyptian Media”

What this arc covers

The 2026 general election for Michigan's U.S. Senate seat between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers: the campaigns, endorsements, debates and polls, and the controversies, including El-Sayed's ties to streamer Hasan Piker and his clash with JD and Usha Vance.

Photo from WCBD News 2, with Michigan attorney general Nessel endorses El-Sayed after previous criticism (Sep 22, 2026), the story with the most independent sources this week.

Earliest story we hold Apr 14, 2025 · 53 stories · 109 independent sources (counted once each) · 527 days

Part ofAbdul El-SayedMike RogersDemocratic PartyUnited States SenateKamala HarrisMichiganJD VanceUsha Vance

Part of The 2026 Michigan Senate race

  1. Abdul El-Sayed's Democratic primary winMar 13, 2025 – Aug 9, 2026
  2. Abdul El-Sayed vs. Mike RogersThis arcApr 14, 2025 – Sep 23, 2026

Part of The 2026 Senate races

  1. The 2026 Kentucky Senate race to succeed Mitch McConnellFeb 20, 2025 – Jan 19, 2026
  2. The 2026 New Hampshire Senate race: Chris Pappas vs. John E. SununuMar 12, 2025 – Sep 9, 2026
  3. The 2026 Michigan Senate race: Abdul El-Sayed vs. Mike RogersThis arcApr 14, 2025 – Sep 23, 2026
  4. The 2026 Illinois Senate race to succeed Dick DurbinApr 23, 2025 – Mar 18, 2026
  5. The 2026 Minnesota Senate race: Peggy Flanagan vs. Michele TafoyaApr 29, 2025 – Aug 12, 2026
  6. The 2026 Georgia Senate race: Jon Ossoff vs. Mike CollinsMay 5, 2025 – Sep 29, 2026
  7. The 2026 Nebraska Senate race: Pete Ricketts vs. Dan OsbornJul 8, 2025 – Sep 16, 2026
  8. The 2026 North Carolina Senate race: Roy Cooper vs. Michael WhatleyJul 24, 2025 – Sep 28, 2026
Show remaining 11 arcs
  1. The 2026 Maine Senate race: Troy Jackson vs. Susan CollinsNov 14, 2024 – Sep 27, 2026
  2. The 2026 Ohio Senate race: Jon Husted vs. Sherrod BrownJan 15, 2025 – Sep 27, 2026
  3. The 2026 Florida Senate race: Ashley Moody vs. Angie NixonJan 16, 2025 – Sep 19, 2026
  4. The 2026 Iowa Senate race: Josh Turek vs. Ashley HinsonAug 29, 2025 – Sep 23, 2026
  5. The 2026 Wyoming Senate race to succeed Cynthia LummisDec 19, 2025 – Aug 19, 2026
  6. The 2026 Alaska Senate race: Dan Sullivan vs. Mary PeltolaJan 12 – Sep 24, 2026
  7. The 2026 Louisiana Senate race: Bill Cassidy's primary defeatJan 18 – Jun 27, 2026
  8. The 2026 Texas Senate race: James Talarico vs. Ken PaxtonApr 28 – Sep 25, 2026
  9. The 2026 Massachusetts Senate race: Ed Markey vs. Seth MoultonMay 30 – Sep 4, 2026
  10. The 2026 Kansas Senate race: Roger Marshall vs. Adam HamiltonAug 5 – Sep 28, 2026
  11. The 2026 South Carolina Senate race: Darline Graham vs. Annie AndrewsSep 11 – Sep 27, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Sep 23– 242026Abdul El-Sayed Backed Muslim Brotherhood Purge of Egyptian Media3 articles · 3 independent sources
0 left, 0 center, 2 right
Sep 23– 252026Watch El-Sayed Claim ‘Cars Are the Modern-Day Cigarette’4 articles · 4 independent sources
0 left, 0 center, 3 right
Sep 222026Sour Patch: Abdul El-Sayed Is Weird About His Beard2 articles · 2 independent sources
0 left, 0 center, 1 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Aug 24 – 29, 2026Hasan Piker Condemned by Jeffries, Ossoff and Other Democrats: Full List38 articles · 21 independent sources
    1. Aug 24, 2026Abdul El-Sayed distances himself from left-wing influencer after comments about American Jews
    2. Aug 25, 2026Democrats condemning Hasan Piker as backlash spreads through party
    3. Aug 25, 2026Only right-leaning coverage:Hasan Piker draws condemnation but progressives still see him as an asset
    4. Aug 27, 2026Jon Ossoff calls out Hasan Piker’s antisemitic tropes and remarks on the mainstream media
    5. Aug 28, 2026Why Dems Won’t Denounce Antisemite Hasan Piker by Name
  2. Aug 25 – 26, 2026El-Sayed appears on Fox News for contentious interview30 articles · 26 independent sources
  3. Aug 29 – Sep 1, 2026El-Sayed apologizes for comments he made responding to an attack on a Michigan synagogue37 articles · 30 independent sources
    1. Aug 29, 2026El-Sayed apologizes to Jewish Democrats for synagogue attack comment
    2. Aug 31, 2026Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed apologizes to Jewish leaders for past remarks
  4. Aug 31 – Sep 1, 2026Vance casts El-Sayed as ‘evil’ and tells him to ‘keep my wife’s name the hell out of your mouth’22 articles · 19 independent sources
  5. Sep 16 – 17, 2026Kamala Harris is to campaign in Michigan with Abdul El-Sayed20 articles · 20 independent sources
  6. Sep 17 – 19, 2026What Is Terrorism? Hasan Piker's Controversial Al-Qaeda Remarks Dissected17 articles · 15 independent sources
  7. Sep 21 – 24, 2026Kamala Harris returns to Michigan to campaign for Abdul El-Sayed for Senate29 articles · 25 independent sources
    1. Sep 21, 2026Kamala Harris set to join El-Sayed in Michigan
    2. Sep 22, 2026Harris joins El-Sayed on campaign trail as Democrats focus on Michigan Senate race

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Apr 2025Jul 2025Nov 2025Feb 2026Jun 2026Sep 2026

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Apr 14, 202526211
Aug 3, 202610714
Aug 10, 2026111938
Aug 17, 2026621538
Aug 24, 202681318125
Aug 31, 2026831452
Sep 14, 2026771978
Sep 21, 2026672271

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

23% left · 27% center · 50% right of 109 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 53 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. April 2025

    Apr 14GOP former Rep. Mike Rogers launches another Michigan Senate run11 articles · 11 independent sources
    2 left, 6 center, 2 right

  2. August 2026

    Aug 3– 7Mike Rogers Makes His Pitch For Dem Support In Michigan After El-Sayed’s ‘Divisive’ Victory5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 4 right
  3. Aug 5– 10Dem Senate candidate El-Sayed defends ties to hate streamer Hasan Piker, hints at big tax increase for middle class8 articles · 7 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 7 right
  4. Aug 6– 7Chuck Schumer tepidly endorses Abdul El-Sayed — after the guy called for him to get canned5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 5 right
  6. Aug 10– 11Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed says "toxic masculinity is at the heart of football"6 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 6 right
  7. Aug 11– 12CNN panel devolves into chaos as Dems accuse GOP of ‘anti-Muslim’ attack on El-Sayed by using his full name3 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 3 right
  8. Aug 11– 13El-Sayed Cited 'Obligation' To Follow Sharia Law10 articles · 10 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 8 right
  9. Aug 12Fact check: How Tim Scott and a Republican attack ad misleadingly snipped key context from El-Sayed’s ‘dangerous’ speech6 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  10. Aug 13– 16Obama to Tell ‘the Brothers’ to Vote for El-Sayed4 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 2 right
  11. Aug 15– 22Hasan Piker dares Democrats to defend him9 articles · 8 independent sources
    3 left, 0 center, 4 right
  12. Aug 17– 20Dearborn protest: Abdul El-Sayed on anti-Muslim rhetoric9 articles · 4 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 0 right
  13. Aug 18– 19Abdul El-Sayed’s mom worked for ‘global terrorist’ group accused of funding bin Laden, Hamas and Taliban: report7 articles · 7 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 6 right
  14. Aug 18– 21El-Sayed Compares Himself to Jesus5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 4 right
  15. Aug 20– 21Mike Rogers calls for 1-year data center moratorium7 articles · 5 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 2 right
  16. Aug 22– 25Usha Vance responds to Abdul El-Sayed’s ‘racist’ attack on her7 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 4 right
  17. Aug 24– 29Hasan Piker Condemned by Jeffries, Ossoff and Other Democrats: Full List38 articles · 21 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 7 right
  18. Aug 24America did it? Abdul El-Sayed’s past remarks blaming U.S. for terrorism come back to haunt him2 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 2 right
  19. Aug 24– 28El-Sayed says he has 'no plans' to campaign with Piker8 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 2 right
  20. Aug 25– 26El-Sayed appears on Fox News for contentious interview30 articles · 26 independent sources
    3 left, 5 center, 12 right
  21. Aug 26– Sep 2Democrats created a Hasan Piker problem. Now they want everyone to forget it.14 articles · 9 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 7 right
  22. Aug 28– Sep 3Abdul El-Sayed wants to mend ties with Jewish Democrats, but some are not impressed6 articles · 6 independent sources
    3 left, 1 center, 2 right
  23. Aug 29– Sep 1El-Sayed apologizes for comments he made responding to an attack on a Michigan synagogue37 articles · 30 independent sources
    2 left, 6 center, 6 right
  24. Aug 31– Sep 1Vance casts El-Sayed as ‘evil’ and tells him to ‘keep my wife’s name the hell out of your mouth’22 articles · 19 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 6 right

  25. September 2026

    Sep 1– 2CBS News’ Bari Weiss Faces Backlash Over Headline Linking Muslim Senate Candidate to 9/117 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 3 right
  26. Sep 2– 3JD Vance’s mom fires back at Abdul El-Sayed after his racially charged criticism of second family: ‘I’d punch the guy ’7 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 5 right
  27. Sep 3– 4Tucker Carlson says he wouldn't vote for Michigan GOP Senate nominee Mike Rogers 'at gun point'5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 3 right
  28. Sep 15– 16Senate debate tonight: Mike Rogers still unanswered; Abdul El-Sayed confirmed2 articles · 1 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  29. Sep 15– 17Mike Rogers to Skip Michigan Senate Debate Over Beef With Local News Anchor6 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 2 right
  30. Sep 16Senate Democrats meet with El-Sayed, rallying around Michigan nominee3 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 1 right
  31. Sep 16– 17Kamala Harris is to campaign in Michigan with Abdul El-Sayed20 articles · 20 independent sources
    5 left, 2 center, 7 right
  32. Sep 17– 19What Is Terrorism? Hasan Piker's Controversial Al-Qaeda Remarks Dissected17 articles · 15 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 11 right
  33. Sep 17– 18El-Sayed narrowly leads Rogers in Michigan Senate race: Poll12 articles · 9 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 2 right
  34. Sep 18– 19Hasan Piker says he’d ‘absolutely’ campaign for AOC in 2028 as El-Sayed distances himself5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 4 right
  35. Sep 18El-Sayed tries to put the Hasan Piker debate behind him as midterms approach3 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 3 right
  36. Sep 18– 19El-Sayed challenges Vance to weightlifting competition: 'You talk a good game'2 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
  37. Sep 19Abdul El-Sayed Gives Big Hug at Swanky Fundraiser to 7-Eleven Operator Sued by the Feds for Stiffing His Workers, 'Wage Theft'2 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 1 right
  38. Sep 20– 21Republican Mike Rogers courts Michigan Democrats and Trump voters as GOP hopes to hold the Senate5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  39. Sep 20DDHQ director says Mike Rogers's time is 'running out'2 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  40. Sep 21– 24Kamala Harris returns to Michigan to campaign for Abdul El-Sayed for Senate29 articles · 25 independent sources
    5 left, 5 center, 4 right
  41. Sep 21Kamala Harris Can Explain To Abdul El-Sayed How Single-Payer Is Political Poison2 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 1 right
  42. Sep 21Tucker Carlson clarifies he hasn’t endorsed anyone in Abdul El-Sayed race2 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 1 right
  43. Sep 21WATCH: 9/11 hero's father narrates powerful ad against Abdul El-Sayed2 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 1 right
  44. Sep 22– 24‘Jews for Abdul’ featured in el Sayed campaign video are actually activists with anti-Israel group6 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 4 right
  45. Sep 22– 23Flight 93 Hero’s Father Challenges El-Sayed Over Piker in New Mike Rogers Ad3 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 3 right
  46. Sep 22Breast cancer is too elitist? Muslim Democrat El-Sayed claims the disease affects those with 'social power and privilege'2 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 1 right
  47. Sep 22El-Sayed on Carlson praise: MAGA 'eating itself'3 articles · 3 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
  48. Sep 22– 23Kamala Harris blasts criticism of DEI as ‘an attack on maternal care’ while stumping for El-Sayed in Michigan6 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 5 right
  49. Sep 22– 23Michigan attorney general Nessel endorses El-Sayed after previous criticism6 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
  50. Sep 22Black "birthing people” makes it Woke 1 return to today’s Kamala Harris/El-Sayed meeting2 articles · 1 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 1 right
  51. Sep 22Sour Patch: Abdul El-Sayed Is Weird About His Beard2 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 1 right
  52. Sep 23– 25Watch El-Sayed Claim ‘Cars Are the Modern-Day Cigarette’4 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 3 right
  53. Sep 23– 24Abdul El-Sayed Backed Muslim Brotherhood Purge of Egyptian Media3 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 2 right