WASHINGTON — Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers criticized his Democratic opponent Abdul El-Sayed during a debate, calling him a "con man" for referring to himself as a doctor without holding a medical license. Rogers claimed that El-Sayed misleads voters about his medical experience, stating, "Well, he’s not really a doctor. He says he’s a physician. If somebody came into his office and he tried to treat that patient, he’d go to jail."
El-Sayed, who has a medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, did not obtain medical licenses to practice in Michigan or New York. His only hands-on experience treating patients was during a four-week internship at a Manhattan hospital. Despite this, he introduced himself as a doctor during the debate, emphasizing his role as a father and discussing the cost of living.
El-Sayed has held various public health positions, including professor of epidemiology at Columbia and director of the Detroit Health Department. He has faced scrutiny over his claims of being a physician, which he has defended by stating, "I have a medical degree from Columbia University. He can take it up with them."
A significant aspect of El-Sayed’s campaign is his support for a "Medicare for All" single-payer healthcare system, which Rogers criticized as costly and a threat to private insurance. The debate marked the first direct confrontation between the two candidates, characterized by personal attacks and insults. Polls indicate a competitive race, with El-Sayed holding a slight lead over Rogers, according to the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate.