Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed have agreed to their first live debate in the U.S. Senate race for Michigan's vacant seat.
WOOD-TV is hosting the debate on Oct. 8, moderated by Rick Albin.
Rogers' campaign website said Rogers will "expose Abdul for the fraud he is."
El-Sayed, a progressive candidate running on a Medicare for All platform, said on his campaign website that Rogers has dodged five other debate challenges from El-Sayed, including an invite to a Sep. 15 debate hosted by Fox 2 and the Michigan Debate Commission.
"On September 15th, I’m showing up to Fox 2’s debate and they’re prepared to run with an empty podium whether you have the courage to show up or not," he said on his campaign website.
Fox 2 anchor Roop Raj, who
will moderate the September debate, said he thinks it's important that both candidates engage in multiple debates, especially one in metro Detroit.
"We believe it is incumbent on both of these candidates to show up for a debate and let different moderators contrast the views and the opinions they have about the future of the state of Michigan," he said in a video on Facebook.
Tristan McFolley is a Detroit Free Press intern. Reach him at tmcfolley@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Mike Rogers, Abdul El-Sayed agree to 1st debate for U.S. Senate seat
