Michigan · U.S. Senate · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on foreign policy and trade?
Abdul El-SayedDemocrat
Mike RogersRepublican
Part of the full Michigan U.S. Senate comparison · Last reviewed October 19, 2026
Foreign Policy & Trade
Each position is labeled by what it rests on: a campaign proposal, a public statement, a past action such as a vote or lawsuit, or an enacted policy. Where nothing is documented, the page says so.
Documented positions
Abdul El-Sayed
Opposes the war with Iran, supports an immediate arms embargo on Israel and opposes direct “blank-check” funding to foreign militaries, including Egypt, Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Show the evidence (2)Hide the evidence
- Campaign proposalAug. 2026
His platform calls for an immediate end to hostilities with Iran, an immediate arms embargo on Israel, enforcement of U.S. laws that condition military aid and sales, and renewed foreign aid, including to UNRWA; it says he opposes direct “blank-check” funding to foreign militaries, including Egypt, Israel and Saudi Arabia. SourceAbdul El-Sayed (opens in a new tab)Ballotpedia · Reference
- Public statementOct. 8, 2026
In the Oct. 8, 2026 debate, declined to give a yes-or-no answer on sending defensive weapons to Israel if it were attacked, saying he does not want tax dollars buying weapons for other countries. 2 sources6 takeaways from the Michigan Senate debate between Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers (opens in a new tab)WLNS 6 News, via Yahoo News · Oct. 9, 2026 · NewsKey takeaways from US Senate debate in Michigan between El-Sayed, Rogers (opens in a new tab)Al Jazeera · Oct. 9, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposalAug. 2026
His platform calls for an immediate end to hostilities with Iran, an immediate arms embargo on Israel, enforcement of U.S. laws that condition military aid and sales, and renewed foreign aid, including to UNRWA; it says he opposes direct “blank-check” funding to foreign militaries, including Egypt, Israel and Saudi Arabia. SourceAbdul El-Sayed (opens in a new tab)Ballotpedia · Reference
- Public statementOct. 8, 2026
In the Oct. 8, 2026 debate, declined to give a yes-or-no answer on sending defensive weapons to Israel if it were attacked, saying he does not want tax dollars buying weapons for other countries. 2 sources6 takeaways from the Michigan Senate debate between Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers (opens in a new tab)WLNS 6 News, via Yahoo News · Oct. 9, 2026 · NewsKey takeaways from US Senate debate in Michigan between El-Sayed, Rogers (opens in a new tab)Al Jazeera · Oct. 9, 2026 · News
Mike Rogers
Backed the 2026 Iran war at first, has urged since September that it end quickly, and would back defensive arms for Israel if attacked; voted for the 2002 Iraq authorization.
Show the evidence (2)Hide the evidence
- Public statementOct. 8, 2026
Backed the U.S. attack on Iran when the war began Feb. 28, 2026, saying Iran “must not have a nuclear weapon”; in a Sept. 21 video said the war “needs to end, and end quickly.” In the Oct. 8 debate he said Iran's nuclear capabilities had been diminished and the war should end, that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon, and indicated he would support providing defensive weapons to Israel if it were attacked by Iran or another state actor. 3 sourcesMichigan GOP Senate candidate who praised the Iran war now campaigns against the pain it caused (opens in a new tab)CNN · Sept. 25, 2026 · NewsFact-check: El-Sayed and Rogers level personal attacks in first Michigan Senate race debate (opens in a new tab)PolitiFact · Oct. 8, 2026 · NewsMichigan Senate debate erupts into personal attacks as Rogers, El-Sayed clash over Israel, Iran and more (opens in a new tab)Fox News · Oct. 8, 2026 · News
- Past actionOct. 10, 2002
Voted for the 2002 joint resolution authorizing the use of U.S. armed forces against Iraq, which passed the House 296–133 on Oct. 10, 2002, and the Senate 77–23 the next day. 3 sourcesRoll Call 455: H.J.Res. 114, To Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Oct. 10, 2002 · Legislative recordRoll Call Vote 107th Congress - 2nd Session, Vote Number 237: On the Joint Resolution H.J.Res. 114 (opens in a new tab)U.S. Senate · Oct. 11, 2002 · Legislative recordMike Rogers wants a job in the US Senate. What’d he do in the House? (opens in a new tab)Bridge Michigan · Sept. 22, 2026 · News
- Public statementOct. 8, 2026
Backed the U.S. attack on Iran when the war began Feb. 28, 2026, saying Iran “must not have a nuclear weapon”; in a Sept. 21 video said the war “needs to end, and end quickly.” In the Oct. 8 debate he said Iran's nuclear capabilities had been diminished and the war should end, that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon, and indicated he would support providing defensive weapons to Israel if it were attacked by Iran or another state actor. 3 sourcesMichigan GOP Senate candidate who praised the Iran war now campaigns against the pain it caused (opens in a new tab)CNN · Sept. 25, 2026 · NewsFact-check: El-Sayed and Rogers level personal attacks in first Michigan Senate race debate (opens in a new tab)PolitiFact · Oct. 8, 2026 · NewsMichigan Senate debate erupts into personal attacks as Rogers, El-Sayed clash over Israel, Iran and more (opens in a new tab)Fox News · Oct. 8, 2026 · News
- Past actionOct. 10, 2002
Voted for the 2002 joint resolution authorizing the use of U.S. armed forces against Iraq, which passed the House 296–133 on Oct. 10, 2002, and the Senate 77–23 the next day. 3 sourcesRoll Call 455: H.J.Res. 114, To Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Oct. 10, 2002 · Legislative recordRoll Call Vote 107th Congress - 2nd Session, Vote Number 237: On the Joint Resolution H.J.Res. 114 (opens in a new tab)U.S. Senate · Oct. 11, 2002 · Legislative recordMike Rogers wants a job in the US Senate. What’d he do in the House? (opens in a new tab)Bridge Michigan · Sept. 22, 2026 · News
In their own words
Statements
Abdul El-Sayed
Israel and the war with Iran
I don’t want to be pushed into war by Israel, and I don’t want to be in war with Iran
Abdul El-Sayed · First general-election debate with Mike Rogers, hosted by WOOD TV8 and NewsNation in Grand Rapids · Oct. 8, 2026
4 sourcesFull video: Abdul El-Sayed, Mike Rogers debate in Michigan US Senate race (opens in a new tab)Bridge Michigan · Oct. 8, 2026 · Transcript or videoKey takeaways from US Senate debate in Michigan between El-Sayed, Rogers (opens in a new tab)Al Jazeera · Oct. 9, 2026 · News6 takeaways from the Michigan Senate debate between Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers (opens in a new tab)WLNS 6 News, via Yahoo News · Oct. 9, 2026 · NewsSparks fly as Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers face off in first Michigan Senate debate (opens in a new tab)NBC News · Oct. 8, 2026 · News
Mike Rogers
War with Iran
I think the best option now is to wind it down. There’s still other things you can do to make sure that they can’t hurt their neighbors and can’t pursue a nuclear weapon.
Mike Rogers · Remarks at a campaign press conference about his ad calling for an end to the war with Iran, as quoted by CNN · Sept. 23, 2026
SourceMichigan GOP Senate candidate who praised the Iran war now campaigns against the pain it caused (opens in a new tab)CNN · Sept. 25, 2026 · News
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