Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has launched a website criticizing Republican rival Mike Rogers over his congressional record on government surveillance and the Patriot Act. The site, MikeIsWatching.com, features the tagline 'Mike Rogers is watching you' alongside eerie audio as it outlines claims about Rogers’s legislative history.
The Michigan Senate race, a key battleground for control of the upper chamber, pits El-Sayed against Rogers, a former congressman. The website’s launch coincides with heightened scrutiny of Rogers’s votes on national security policies during his tenure in the House.
Progressive leaders rally behind El-Sayed
At a Monday fundraiser in New York, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez framed El-Sayed’s candidacy as a pivotal moment for progressive politics. Speaking at an event supporting El-Sayed, she argued that his potential victory in Michigan could redefine electoral strategies nationwide. 'If Abdul can win in Michigan, anybody can win anywhere,' Ocasio-Cortez said, according to audio obtained by ABC News. She emphasized the symbolic importance of El-Sayed’s campaign, noting his identity as a Muslim doctor running in a state Trump won in 2024. 'Can you imagine five years ago, four years ago saying that the Democratic nominee for Senate in a statewide race in Michigan just after Democrats lost to Donald Trump, is a man, a Muslim doctor, by the name of Abdul El-Sayed?' she stated.
Ocasio-Cortez also positioned the race as part of a broader progressive movement, stating that El-Sayed’s campaign represents a test of whether policies with broad public support can translate into electoral success. 'We have written a check on the left, saying if you champion these policies that have popular support, we can win,' she said. 'Now it is time to cash in.'
Key claims on surveillance and the Patriot Act
The website launched by El-Sayed’s campaign alleges that Rogers supported and expanded government surveillance powers during his time in Congress. The site’s landing page includes references to Rogers’s votes on reauthorizations of the Patriot Act, a law enacted after the September 11 attacks that expanded law enforcement’s surveillance capabilities. The campaign has not provided a detailed breakdown of the claims in its initial rollout, but the site suggests a broader critique of Rogers’s national security record.
Rogers, who served in the House from 2001 to 2015, was a vocal advocate for intelligence and surveillance measures during his tenure. His record includes co-sponsoring legislation to extend surveillance authorities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and supporting provisions of the Patriot Act. The campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the specific allegations.
Race dynamics and stakes
Michigan’s Senate race is widely viewed as a toss-up, with both parties investing heavily in the state. El-Sayed, a former Michigan health director, has positioned himself as a progressive alternative to Rogers, framing the election as a referendum on issues including healthcare, economic policy, and national security. Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsement underscores the race’s significance for the Democratic Party’s left flank, which has sought to expand its influence in competitive Senate contests.
The campaign’s website launch and Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks reflect a broader strategy to frame the race around contrasting visions of government power, surveillance, and electoral strategy. As the general election approaches, the debate over Rogers’s record on surveillance is expected to remain a central theme.