Michigan · U.S. Senate · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Where do the candidates stand on water?

Abdul El-SayedDemocrat
Mike RogersRepublican

Part of the full Michigan U.S. Senate comparison · Last reviewed October 19, 2026

Water

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

Proposes a federal clean-water guarantee with bills capped at 2% of household income, removing Michigan's lead pipes by 2030 and shutting down the Line 5 pipeline.

Show the evidence (3)

Campaign proposalAug. 2026
His platform proposes guaranteeing every family at least 50 gallons of clean water per person per day, with bills capped at 2% of household income and protections against shutoffs; federal funding to remove every lead pipe from Michigan water systems by 2030; holding polluters accountable for PFAS; and shutting down Line 5. 2 sourcesAbdul El-Sayed (opens in a new tab)Ballotpedia · ReferenceU.S. Senate — VOTE411 Voter Guide (opens in a new tab)League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · 2026 · Candidate questionnaire
Past action
As Detroit health director after the Flint water crisis, pushed to have all Detroit schools and early childhood centers tested for lead in their water. 2 sourcesAbdul El-Sayed under microscope: His record, from public health to podcasts (opens in a new tab)Bridge Michigan · Sept. 25, 2026 · NewsFact check: Abdul El-Sayed overstates claim he erased $700M in medical debt (opens in a new tab)Bridge Michigan · June 25, 2026 · News
Public statementAug. 2026
In an August 2026 statement to Bridge Michigan, called for “a responsible shutdown of Line 5 in its current form” and a more thorough environmental review of the proposed tunnel; Bridge reports he stopped short of endorsing or condemning the tunnel proposal. SourceLine 5: Where Jocelyn Benson, John James, Abdul El-Sayed, Mike Rogers stand (opens in a new tab)Bridge Michigan, via Interlochen Public Radio · Aug. 21, 2026 · News

Campaign proposalAug. 2026
His platform proposes guaranteeing every family at least 50 gallons of clean water per person per day, with bills capped at 2% of household income and protections against shutoffs; federal funding to remove every lead pipe from Michigan water systems by 2030; holding polluters accountable for PFAS; and shutting down Line 5. 2 sourcesAbdul El-Sayed (opens in a new tab)Ballotpedia · ReferenceU.S. Senate — VOTE411 Voter Guide (opens in a new tab)League of Women Voters Education Fund (VOTE411) · 2026 · Candidate questionnaire
Past action
As Detroit health director after the Flint water crisis, pushed to have all Detroit schools and early childhood centers tested for lead in their water. 2 sourcesAbdul El-Sayed under microscope: His record, from public health to podcasts (opens in a new tab)Bridge Michigan · Sept. 25, 2026 · NewsFact check: Abdul El-Sayed overstates claim he erased $700M in medical debt (opens in a new tab)Bridge Michigan · June 25, 2026 · News
Public statementAug. 2026
In an August 2026 statement to Bridge Michigan, called for “a responsible shutdown of Line 5 in its current form” and a more thorough environmental review of the proposed tunnel; Bridge reports he stopped short of endorsing or condemning the tunnel proposal. SourceLine 5: Where Jocelyn Benson, John James, Abdul El-Sayed, Mike Rogers stand (opens in a new tab)Bridge Michigan, via Interlochen Public Radio · Aug. 21, 2026 · News

Opposed a 2001 amendment barring funds for Great Lakes drilling permits, saying states should decide and citing his own offshore-ban bill; has previously expressed support for the Line 5 tunnel.

Show the evidence (2)

Public statement
Bridge Michigan reported in August 2026 that he has previously expressed support for the project to encase the Straits of Mackinac section of the Line 5 petroleum pipeline in an underground tunnel; his spokespeople did not answer its questions on Line 5. SourceLine 5: Where Jocelyn Benson, John James, Abdul El-Sayed, Mike Rogers stand (opens in a new tab)Bridge Michigan, via Interlochen Public Radio · Aug. 21, 2026 · News
Past actionJune 28, 2001
Spoke and voted against a June 2001 amendment to the fiscal 2002 energy and water spending bill that barred funds for permits or leases for oil and gas drilling beneath the Great Lakes, arguing that no Great Lakes state allowed offshore drilling and that the states should protect the lakes. It passed 265–157. In the same remarks he said he had a bill pending that “continues the ban on offshore drilling in our Great Lakes,” and he voted for the energy and water spending bill (H.R. 2311), which passed the House 405–15 the same day (roll 206). 4 sourcesRoll Call 203: H.R. 2311, Bonior of Michigan Amendment, On Agreeing to the Amendment (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · June 28, 2001 · Legislative recordCongressional Record — House, June 27, 2001, page H3679 (Energy and Water Development Appropriations debate) (opens in a new tab)U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo) · June 27, 2001 · Legislative recordCongressional Record, June 28, 2001 (opens in a new tab)Library of Congress (Congress.gov) · June 28, 2001 · Legislative recordRoll Call 206: H.R. 2311, Energy and Water Development Appropriations for FY 2002, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · June 28, 2001 · Legislative record

Public statement
Bridge Michigan reported in August 2026 that he has previously expressed support for the project to encase the Straits of Mackinac section of the Line 5 petroleum pipeline in an underground tunnel; his spokespeople did not answer its questions on Line 5. SourceLine 5: Where Jocelyn Benson, John James, Abdul El-Sayed, Mike Rogers stand (opens in a new tab)Bridge Michigan, via Interlochen Public Radio · Aug. 21, 2026 · News
Past actionJune 28, 2001
Spoke and voted against a June 2001 amendment to the fiscal 2002 energy and water spending bill that barred funds for permits or leases for oil and gas drilling beneath the Great Lakes, arguing that no Great Lakes state allowed offshore drilling and that the states should protect the lakes. It passed 265–157. In the same remarks he said he had a bill pending that “continues the ban on offshore drilling in our Great Lakes,” and he voted for the energy and water spending bill (H.R. 2311), which passed the House 405–15 the same day (roll 206). 4 sourcesRoll Call 203: H.R. 2311, Bonior of Michigan Amendment, On Agreeing to the Amendment (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · June 28, 2001 · Legislative recordCongressional Record — House, June 27, 2001, page H3679 (Energy and Water Development Appropriations debate) (opens in a new tab)U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo) · June 27, 2001 · Legislative recordCongressional Record, June 28, 2001 (opens in a new tab)Library of Congress (Congress.gov) · June 28, 2001 · Legislative recordRoll Call 206: H.R. 2311, Energy and Water Development Appropriations for FY 2002, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · June 28, 2001 · Legislative record

Recorded votes on water

Selected votes

Measures only one of the two candidates voted on.

No legislative record

Bonior amendment to the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill for FY 2002 (H.R. 2311, 107th Congress)
Water
Barred the use of funds in the bill to issue any permit, lease, license, approval or right-of-way for drilling to extract or explore for oil or gas from the land beneath the Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair and their connecting rivers.
Agreed to 265–157 on June 28, 2001; the House passed the bill 405–15 the same day. In the enacted law (Public Law 107-66, Nov. 12, 2001), Sec. 503 directed the Secretary of the Army to study the environmental effects of oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes and provided that during fiscal years 2002 and 2003 no federal or state permit or lease would be issued for new oil and gas slant, directional or offshore drilling in or under the Great Lakes.
5 sourcesRoll Call 203: H.R. 2311, Bonior of Michigan Amendment, On Agreeing to the Amendment (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · June 28, 2001 · Legislative recordCongressional Record, June 28, 2001 (opens in a new tab)Library of Congress (Congress.gov) · June 28, 2001 · Legislative recordCongressional Record — House, June 27, 2001, page H3679 (Energy and Water Development Appropriations debate) (opens in a new tab)U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo) · June 27, 2001 · Legislative recordRoll Call 206: H.R. 2311, Energy and Water Development Appropriations for FY 2002, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · June 28, 2001 · Legislative recordPublic Law 107-66, Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2002 (opens in a new tab)Library of Congress (Congress.gov) · Nov. 12, 2001 · Legislative record
Voted no
U.S. House · June 28, 2001
On Agreeing to the Amendment
House roll call 203, 2001 (official record, opens in a new tab)SourceRoll Call 203: H.R. 2311, Bonior of Michigan Amendment, On Agreeing to the Amendment (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · June 28, 2001 · Legislative record

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