Detroit News backs Rogers, citing El-Sayed's deleted history

Key points

• The Detroit News, Michigan's second-largest newspaper, endorsed former Rep. Mike Rogers over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Gary Peters.
• The endorsement criticized El-Sayed for deleting approximately 100 YouTube videos and numerous social media posts, including comments on 9/11, the Second Amendment, and police funding.
• The paper argued that hiding past views makes it impossible for voters to trust El-Sayed's future positions, calling Rogers the 'prototype of a United States Senator' due to his 14 years in the House and cybersecurity expertise.
• El-Sayed's campaign stated deletions were to prevent old posts from being taken out of context, while emphasizing his unequivocal condemnation of terrorism.
• Current polling shows a tight race, with Fox News reporting a four-point edge for Rogers and Washington Post-Schar School showing a narrow lead for El-Sayed.

Background

The Michigan Senate race is a critical battleground for Democrats seeking to recapture the chamber majority. Recent coverage highlights El-Sayed's attendance at a FOX 2 debate where Rogers declined to participate, and Tucker Carlson's endorsement of El-Sayed against Rogers' attacks. Polls indicate a margin-of-error race, with some showing El-Sayed ahead and others favoring Rogers.

How outlets are covering it

Fox News and the Detroit News align in highlighting El-Sayed's deleted content as a trust issue, with the newspaper providing specific details on removed videos and posts. The Detroit News also criticized El-Sayed's association with Hasan Piker and Democratic Socialist priorities. In contrast, the Detroit Regional Chamber PAC declined to endorse either candidate for the Senate, focusing instead on state and local races, reflecting a business community preference for pragmatism over partisan alignment. El-Sayed's campaign defends the deletions as context management, while Fox News notes the lack of response to their inquiries.

Why it matters

The endorsement from a major Michigan newspaper signals a significant shift in narrative for a tight Senate race, potentially influencing undecided voters in a state crucial for the 2026 midterm balance of power.

What to watch

The race will continue with further polling and campaign events leading up to the November 3, 2026, general election, where the outcome will determine Michigan's Senate representation and potentially the national majority.