Sunita Somvanshi
The Detroit News editorial board endorsed Republican Mike Rogers over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed for Michigan's US Senate seat on September 16, 2026. The endorsement is the editorial board's opinion and should be read as such — a major regional newspaper's recommendation, not a neutral assessment of either candidate's qualifications. Michigan's Senate race heads toward the November election with The Detroit News, one of the state's major newspapers, on record for Rogers.
The Detroit News cited Rogers' 14 years in the US House of Representatives, his role as chair of the House Intelligence Committee, his Army service and his career with the FBI as the basis for its endorsement. The editorial board described Rogers as prepared for the demands of the Senate seat. It criticised El-Sayed for limited experience in elected office and raised claims about deleted online posts and videos; those claims are the editorial board's characterisation and have not been independently verified in this report.
For Michigan voters comparing the two candidates, the endorsement adds a data point about where one of the state's major editorial boards stands. An endorsement is not a poll, not a fundraising total and not an election result. Voters should use the board's stated rationale alongside each candidate's biography, publicly available policy positions, campaign statements and responses to criticism — not treat the editorial as a neutral fact-check.
What the Endorsement Says and What It Doesn't
The Detroit News editorial is an explicit piece of advocacy from a newspaper that has historically endorsed candidates across party lines. Its claims about Rogers are drawn from his public record, which is verifiable: 14 years in the House, the Intelligence Committee chairmanship, Army and FBI service are documented facts. Its criticisms of El-Sayed — characterising his experience as insufficient and raising concerns about past online activity — are editorial judgments. They may or may not reflect El-Sayed's actual record and explanations.
El-Sayed's campaign, which has recently received an endorsement from Reproductive Freedom for All, has been active in the lead-up to the November race. The campaign's own positions and responses to the Detroit News editorial are the relevant counterpoint — and readers who want a complete picture of the race should seek out both campaigns' statements directly rather than relying on either the endorsement or coverage of it alone.
The endorsement records the editorial board's preference; it does not by itself measure voter opinion or electoral support.
Who did The Detroit News endorse for Michigan Senate?
The Detroit News endorsed Republican Mike Rogers over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in the 2026 Michigan Senate race. Its editorial cited Rogers' congressional, military, FBI and cybersecurity background and criticised El-Sayed's elected-office experience and past online material. Those criticisms are the editorial board's stated assessment and should be read as opinion, not as independently verified fact.
Other endorsements, campaign statements and polling may provide additional information about the race, but none changes the editorial nature of The Detroit News endorsement.
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