Hezbollah

Republican Mike Rogers, locked in a tight Michigan Senate race against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, called this week for an immediate end to the US-Canada tariff dispute, marking a reversal from his earlier support for President Trump's trade policy. In a social media ad filmed in a bar, Rogers drinks a Labatt beer and says "Canada is not our enemy," pledging to work across party lines to lower prices for Michigan consumers.

The shift contrasts with Rogers' comments as recently as last month, when he called the tariffs "necessary," and with a post from nearly a year ago crediting Trump's tariffs with restoring "fairness for Michigan workers." El-Sayed accused Rogers of flip-flopping only because his poll numbers have slipped. The tariffs, imposed on Canadian imports in July, have strained Michigan's auto industry, which relies on cross-border supply chains.

In a subsequent debate, Rogers attacked El-Sayed's foreign financing ties and record, while El-Sayed drew criticism for calling a question about whether Iran or Israel poses a greater threat to the US "ridiculous." Rogers made a similar reversal on Iran policy two weeks earlier, part of a broader trend of Republicans in competitive races distancing themselves from Trump.

Michigan Senate candidates Abdul El-Sayed (D) and Mike Rogers (R) clashed in a debate over campaign finance and outside funding ahead of the November midterms. El-Sayed criticized Rogers for profiting from corporate work after leaving Congress and said he does not personally own stock, framing himself as opposed to money's influence in politics.

Rogers pushed back, calling the characterization false and raising accusations that El-Sayed has received financial support tied to George Soros and groups linked to designated terrorist organizations including Hamas, Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda. El-Sayed did not directly deny the claims during the exchange. The allegations build on earlier reporting, including Senate testimony raising homeland security concerns over El-Sayed's family ties to Muslim Brotherhood-linked groups and a voter-engagement organization connected to CAIR, as well as prior claims about donations tied to associates of Jeffrey Epstein. Rogers has repeatedly called on El-Sayed to return money linked to terrorist organizations. The race is one of several competitive Senate contests shaping control of the chamber in the midterm elections.

Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidate John James joined Senate candidate Mike Rogers in calling for a quick end to the Iran War, breaking from President Trump's public defense of the conflict. James, a combat veteran, said "Iran cannot have a nuke" but urged using "every resource" to end the war quickly, while praising the administration's diplomatic and economic efforts. Rogers similarly called for the war to end "quickly," warning it is driving up costs for Michigan families, and has proposed suspending both the state and federal gas tax, a combined 70 cents a gallon, along with a temporary embargo on U.S. diesel exports.

Democrats pushed back, noting James voted against multiple congressional resolutions demanding an end to the war or requiring authorization to continue it, including a September 15 measure that passed 220-204. The Michigan Democratic Party accused James of "trying to desperately lie about his record" as gas hovers near $5 a gallon and diesel prices hit record highs. James has not committed to suspending the state or federal gas tax, unlike Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson, who backs pausing the federal tax. In the Senate race, Rogers trails Democrat Abdul El-Sayed by roughly 7 points in recent polling, while Trump has defended the war and warned he could act more forcefully against Iran absent a peace deal.