Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed brought the closely watched race for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate to northern Michigan on Monday afternoon.
The former Wayne County health director spoke at a campaign forum in Traverse City, hosted by the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance.
“We're all paying more in gas and more in groceries because of the stupid war that was still only a military operation,” El-Sayed said regarding the war in Iran. “Anybody could have told you the Strait of Hormuz is a place that is a real weakness for energy supply.”
His Republican opponent, former Congressman Mike Rogers, did not attend the event citing scheduling conflicts, but said he would come to a future event with the Alliance.
“I am looking forward to joining the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance on October 23rd,” Rogers said on social media. “I’m grateful for their work to support Michigan businesses and am looking forward to being a partner to them in the U.S. Senate."
Rogers has also joined calls to end the war in Iran. In a social media video, he said the war "needs to end and end quickly," citing rising energy costs.
In the past, Rogers said he would oppose Congress revoking President Donald Trump's war powers but wanted a quick end to the conflict.
"You can't stop in mid-negotiation. I think that would not be good for America, but I want him to wrap it up," he told CBS Detroit in July.
At the event, El-Sayed bolstered his support for "Medicare for All" and talked about his desire to regulate short-term rentals, which he argues has raised housing prices in tourism-driven economies like Traverse City.
“These big tech corporations have enabled people with misallocated capital…a lot of extra money in their pocket, to buy housing stock, turn it in effect into a small hotel, and then take that housing stock off the market,” he said.
Mike Rogers has called for less dramatic healthcare changes, including an expansion of the TrumpRX drug discount program, and publicizing denial rates.
On housing, Rogers has a four-point plan that would expand 529 tax-free higher-education accounts to cover down payments, lowering interest rates by allowing families to build credit with on-time payments, cutting regulations on homebuilding and creating tax-free zones for housebuilding.
El-Sayed has established himself as a progressive candidate that has motivated voters like Traverse City's Chris Linsell, the chief marketing officer at The Mitten Group, a real estate brokerage.
He said he was “super excited” to hear El-Sayed speak.
“He's an educated guy," Linsell said. "He comes from a background that I find really interesting with a medical degree. He grew up in Detroit. There are so many things about this guy that I want to like,” Linsell said.
Linsell said he wants a different kind of politician, and is voting with his two young kids in mind.
“I am here to make sure that my kids will always be able to go to a doctor," Linsell said. "My kids will always be able to have access to high quality education and they have a world that I feel good about them inheriting.”
Micah Haven works at Grand Traverse Industries, a non-partisan group who provide job and community support for people with disabilities.
He said he is only now looking into the highly competitive U.S. Senate race, with federal cuts to Medicaid being top of mind for him.
“Most of the folks that I work with are dependent on funding from Medicaid to be able to support themselves,” he said. “So, if something were to reduce Medicaid funding for folks with disabilities, that would be a concern for people that I care about.”
Haven said he hopes that whoever wins will work to protect those with disabilities.
“Regardless of who's in power, they need to know how important people with disabilities are.”
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
