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Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers says he is making inroads with Black voters in Michigan, but polling shows a tight statewide race as he tries to defeat Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed for an open Senate seat that could determine control of Congress.
According to a Fox News poll conducted September 24-28, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed led Republican Mike Rogers 50% to 49% among likely voters in Michigan, a gap so small that the poll does not establish a clear leader.
ABC News reported that no polling establishes whether Rogers is gaining support among Black voters specifically.
Rogers told ABC News Live that his campaign is reaching out to traditionally Democratic constituencies, including Black voters in Detroit and Pontiac, and receiving a positive response.
“We are going into what would normally be traditional Democrat coalitions, and we're getting such a great response,” Rogers said. “I think that's why we're going to win, and that's what's different.”
Rogers has also sought to distance himself from President Donald Trump on economic issues, criticizing tariffs on Canadian goods and expressing concern about inflation and rising prices.
“This new round of Canadian tariffs are problematic for us here in the state,” Rogers told ABC News, pointing to the interconnected auto industries in Michigan and Canada.
Rogers represented Michigan in the U.S. House for seven terms, including as chair of the House Intelligence Committee. He lost the 2024 Senate race to Democrat Elissa Slotkin.
The campaign’s outreach comes as former President Barack Obama is scheduled to campaign with El-Sayed in Detroit on Saturday (October 24), according to ABC News.
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