Monopolies and Labor Shape Michigan Senate Race

Abdul El-Sayed called for stronger regulation of large corporations and greater union influence at an Oct. 20 Detroit Economic Club appearance. Mike Rogers, by contrast, argued for low taxes, American-made energy and using business to address problems. Their competing economic plans put corporate power and government’s role at the center of a Michigan Senate race that could help determine control of the Senate.

The candidates appeared separately at the Detroit Masonic Temple, answering questions for about 25 minutes each. The event took place two weeks before Election Day and one day before a scheduled second televised debate. They’re seeking the seat held by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, who announced in January 2025 that he wouldn’t seek a third six-year term.

Corporate Power and Competition

El-Sayed, a former public health official from Ann Arbor, said large corporations had taken over markets and argued that more competition and regulation were needed. “Old ideas have not been working,” he said. “We are suffering for them.”

He asked how many people in the audience had a cellphone made by Apple or Samsung. Most raised their hands. El-Sayed said the response showed an oligopoly, or limited competition, and called for action against “monopolies and oligopolies.”

El-Sayed described himself as a capitalist, while saying that a few very large corporations dominated much of the economy. He advocated restoring “competitiveness in a market,” increasing union influence and providing government-funded health care coverage to everyone.

“Guaranteeing health insurance to everybody in this country would be the single most important thing we could do for small business,” El-Sayed said. His remarks linked access to health insurance with conditions facing small businesses, while his proposal would make the government responsible for coverage.

Business, Government and the Senate Race

Rogers, a former U.S. House member from White Lake, cited his work on bipartisan legislation and his relationship with Republican President Donald Trump's administration. Trump endorsed Rogers in July 2025. “My thing is this: Send somebody back that can actually go and get a meeting and fix it,” Rogers said.

Rogers argued that sending someone whose goal was to “gouge the president's eyes out” wouldn't help Michigan. He said the state had “very low metrics” to improve. He also called for boosting American-made energy, keeping taxes low and improving student reading scores.

“I don't care who's the president,” Rogers said. “I don't care who's the governor. We're going to get this done for the future or our state.” He criticized what he called some Democrats’ “anti-business” policies and said he would “use business to solve our problems.”

The exchange also covered tariffs and artificial intelligence. Rogers described El-Sayed’s support from prominent democratic socialists, including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, as support for “big government, government control, more rules, more regulations, another Green New Deal.” He recounted an elected official in Detroit telling him the city wouldn't become a “Democratic Socialist city.”

A National Contest

Organizers said dozens of reporters attended, including journalists from Finland and Japan. The event came as political observers said Democrats needed to hold Peters’ seat to have a chance to flip control of the GOP-led Senate. At an appearance in Monroe the previous week, Republican Vice President JD Vance called the Michigan race the most important in the country.

El-Sayed answered reporters’ questions after the meeting; Rogers did not. Asked whether Rogers represented too much of the same in Washington, El-Sayed said Rogers referred to himself in line with what Donald Trump wanted and said, “I don't think he has an economic viewpoint. I think his economic viewpoint is go along to get along.”