Rogers Calls Democratic Senate Rival El-Sayed Anti-American Over 9/11 Remarks

The exchange marks an early flashpoint in the Michigan Senate race, where candidate rhetoric on national security is becoming a central campaign issue ahead of the midterms.

Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers publicly characterized his Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, as "anti-American" on Thursday, citing El-Sayed's past statements about the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, according to reporting by the New York Post.

Rogers made the remarks in Dallas while preparing to address the second and final night of the Republican Party's midterm convention. "He has long separated himself from Team America," Rogers said. "His rhetoric is divisive. It's angry. It's anti-American. He'd have to have a full about-face for me to even take him seriously."

The specific comments by El-Sayed that Rogers referenced were not detailed in the sourced reporting. The full text of El-Sayed's original statements, including their date and venue, is not available in the source material reviewed for this article. Public records such as transcripts, social media archives, or campaign communications from El-Sayed's accounts would be the documents most likely to establish the precise wording and context of those remarks.

El-Sayed, a physician and former candidate for Michigan governor in 2018, is seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat in Michigan. Rogers, a former FBI agent and former U.S. House representative who served Michigan's 8th congressional district, is the Republican candidate in that race. Both campaigns are operating in a competitive state that has swung between parties in recent federal election cycles.

Rogers attended the GOP midterm convention in Dallas, where Republican candidates and party officials have gathered to coordinate strategy ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The convention also featured remarks from other party figures, including a presentation from NRCC Chair Hudson outlining a three-part House retention strategy, as covered previously by NRCC Chair Hudson Outlines Three-Part House Retention Strategy at Dallas Convention.

The September 11 anniversary has historically served as a focal point for political messaging on national security across party lines. In 2026, Republican candidates at multiple levels have incorporated references to the 2001 attacks into campaign communications, while Democratic candidates have varied in their responses to such framing.

Rogers served in the U.S. House from 2001 to 2015, during which he chaired the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from 2011 to 2015, according to congressional records. His background in federal law enforcement and intelligence oversight is a consistent feature of his campaign identity. El-Sayed has positioned himself as a progressive candidate focused on healthcare and economic policy, based on his publicly available campaign materials.

No Federal Election Commission filings reviewed for this article show a direct financial connection between either candidate's campaign and any organization specifically focused on 9/11 commemorations or national security advocacy. FEC filings for both campaigns covering the most recent reporting period would show current fundraising totals and donor sources, but those figures are not included in the source material available at publication time.

The Michigan Senate race is considered competitive by multiple nonpartisan election forecasters. The seat is currently held by a Democrat, and Republicans have identified it as a target in their effort to expand or hold their Senate majority. Polling averages for the race as of September 11, 2026 are not included in the available source material.

What remains unknown at this time includes the precise text and original source of El-Sayed's 9/11 statements that Rogers cited, El-Sayed's campaign response to Rogers's characterization, and any formal debate schedule between the two candidates. El-Sayed's campaign communications, social media records, and any issued statements would be the public documents most likely to address the first two unknowns. A joint campaign filing or state party schedule would confirm any upcoming debates.