Abdul El-Sayed faces empty podium after Mike Rogers pulls out of Senate debate

WASHINGTON, DC: Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed appeared alone at a FOX 2 debate after Republican candidate Mike Rogers opted not to attend the event.

Rogers’ campaign said he was skipping the debate because of alleged concerns about moderator Roop Raj’s previous comments about El-Sayed.

However, the network proceeded with the event, leaving an empty podium beside El-Sayed as he answered questions alone. 

Mike Rogers skips debate, citing concerns over moderator

Rogers’ campaign said he declined to participate because of bias concerns.

Alyssa Brouillet, Rogers’ communications director, said "voters deserved a debate that was not affected by what she characterized as favoritism from the moderator. Michiganders deserve to see their candidates engage in a healthy, fair debate, not one compromised by media bias.”

“Roop Raj has made his position clear, from praising Abdul as 'brilliant,' to being celebrated by Hasan Piker as 'my GOAT,' and bragging about his political stunts.”

The Rogers campaign also said the Republican candidate would participate in two other debates hosted by other networks.

Raj addressed the criticism during the broadcast, rejecting the suggestion that the station was attempting to favor either candidate.

 “Nothing we do at this station is trying to take a side,” Raj said. “We ask tough questions about Republicans and Democrats each and every night, but as you can imagine, the narrative is the narrative.”

Raj acknowledged that he had previously described El-Sayed as “brilliant,” explaining that the comment was connected to El-Sayed’s background as a Rhodes Scholar. He also said he viewed both candidates as “tremendous political athletes.”

After the debate El Sayed posted a photograph of himself standing beside the empty podium and wrote, “Mike DODGERS is too cowardly to show up to debate me.”

Abdul El-Sayed pitches Medicare for All at debate

With Rogers absent, El-Sayed used his solo appearance to discuss healthcare costs and his support for Medicare for All.

He argued that Americans already make significant healthcare-related payments through their paychecks and private insurance.

“Right now, if you look at your W-2 paycheck, okay? You get paid every two weeks or four weeks. First payment that goes off the top is FICA, Federal Insurance Collections Agency, that's Uncle Sam. And then after FICA is your health insurer, your private health insurer. They eat before your family eats,” El-Sayed said.

He argued that Americans pay more for healthcare than people in other countries while also facing deductibles and copays.

“Think about a deductible, think about a copay. We are being nickeled and dimed by corporations who exist specifically to hold our healthcare dollars, and pay out as little as possible,” he said.  

El-Sayed said Medicare for All would substantially reduce the amount people pay for healthcare.

He also connected his healthcare proposal to his position on taxing billionaires.

“And so the amount of money that you end up paying for healthcare under Medicare for All is substantially lower. And I also believe that we should be taxing billionaires their wealth,” he said.