Michigan Republican Senate Candidate Mike Rogers Faces Backlash Over Video Appeal to Democrats
Key Takeaways
- •Mike Rogers posted a video on X urging disaffected Democrats to support him after the party nominated progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed for Michigan's U.S. Senate seat.
- •El-Sayed, a physician and former Detroit health director who previously ran for Michigan governor in 2018, campaigned on a progressive platform that energized the Democratic left flank.
- •The video drew immediate criticism on X, with particular attention paid to the silent reactions and facial expressions of Rogers' wife, Kristi Rogers.
- •Critics and Democratic operatives resurfaced Rogers' past remark calling voters who blame Trump for high prices 'nuts' and renewed questions about his Florida residency.
- •Michigan's Senate race is considered one of the most competitive nationally and could play a decisive role in determining which party controls the U.S. Senate.
Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, released a video on X attempting to court Democratic voters following the party's nomination of progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed — and the appeal immediately drew widespread criticism on the platform.
Michigan's Senate seat is among the most closely watched battleground races nationally, with the outcome potentially factoring into which party controls the upper chamber.
Rogers, a former U.S. Representative who served Michigan's 8th Congressional District from 2001 to 2015 and was previously an FBI agent, addressed disaffected Democrats directly in the video. "The person who won does not represent your values," Rogers said. "You have a home with us."
El-Sayed, a physician and former Detroit health director who previously sought the Democratic nomination for Michigan governor in 2018, ran on a progressive platform that energized the party's left flank — the same voters Rogers was now trying to peel away.
The video also featured Rogers' wife, Kristi Rogers, who remained silent throughout but displayed a range of expressions — nodding, grimacing, shaking her head, and smiling. Viewers were quick to react.
Travis Akers replied on X: "They look like Lifetime movie villains."
Brian Rosenworcel asked: "Why she mad?"
Another X user shared a screenshot of Kristi Rogers' silent stare and responded: "I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE F---ING TERRIFIED IN MY LIFE."
Joey Hannum, a spokesman for Michigan Democrats, seized the moment to circulate a past headline to Rogers' followers: "Millionaire Mike Rogers says voters blaming Trump for high prices are 'nuts.'" Hannum wrote: "Wow that's crazy. btw what did you mean by this?"
Melinda Collins accused Rogers of "Islamophobic fear mongering." She added: "[El-Sayed] actually lives in Michigan. You live in Florida."
Reporting by the Michigan Advance previously found that Rogers purchased a multimillion-dollar mansion in Florida that served as "his official residence until his decision to run for U.S. Senate." The residency issue has been a recurring line of attack from Democrats seeking to portray Rogers as out of touch with the state he hopes to represent.
Journalist Mehdi Hasan drew a comparison by sharing an image of Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who gained national notoriety in 2020 after brandishing firearms outside their home during a protest sparked by the killing of George Floyd.
