Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin and Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers engaged in their second debate as they vie for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Debbie Stabenow in Michigan. The candidates tackled a range of issues during the debate, including abortion, transgender athletes in women's sports, electric vehicles, border security, gun regulations, and the influence of former President Donald Trump.
Rogers, who received an endorsement from Trump earlier this year and frequently appears alongside the former president at campaign events, notably did not mention Trump during Monday night's debate, continuing a trend from the previous debate. Slotkin, on the other hand, sought to draw a connection between Rogers and Trump, suggesting that Rogers has been influenced by the former president's rhetoric.
Slotkin highlighted a shift in Rogers' approach, pointing out that the 2014 version of Rogers was more open to bipartisanship compared to his current stance. She referenced Rogers' recent comments expressing concerns about voting systems in Southeast Michigan, which she interpreted as echoing Trump's claims of election irregularities. Slotkin emphasized the importance of safeguarding democracy and expressed a desire to see the return of the bipartisan approach she associated with the earlier version of Rogers.
Additionally, Slotkin raised the issue of campaign donations, noting that Betsy DeVos, a former member of Trump's administration, has contributed to Rogers' campaign. She implied that Rogers' education policies may be influenced by DeVos, who previously served as the Secretary of Education under Trump.
The debate between Slotkin and Rogers provided voters with insights into their positions on key issues and their respective approaches to governance. As the campaign for the Senate seat in Michigan continues, the contrasting perspectives of the candidates on issues such as voting integrity, education policy, and bipartisanship are likely to remain central themes in the race.
