US midterms: key takeaways from Senate debates in Michigan, Georgia and Maine

With control of the upper chamber on the line in the upcoming midterm elections, candidates in three key Senate races traded sharp personal attacks and debated critical policy issues on Thursday night. Debates held in Georgia, Michigan and Maine centered on voter concerns regarding the cost of living, tariffs, foreign conflicts and reproductive rights.

Democrats are attempting to gain ground by flipping four Republican seats to secure a Senate majority, intensifying the stakes across the closely watched battleground contests.

Economic pressures were a focal point throughout the evening. In Michigan, where Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers are vying for an open seat, both candidates advocated for suspending fuel taxes to counter high gas prices. El-Sayed argued that ending the war in Iran is vital to lower fuel costs and questioned Rogers's alignment with Donald Trump. Rogers countered by branding El-Sayed as an ideological extremist.

Trade was another major friction point in Michigan due to its proximity to Canada. Rogers noted he had recently urged the commerce secretary to pursue a deal and opposed overly high tariffs. El-Sayed accused his opponent of reversing course due to weak polling, arguing that Rogers was trying to soften his image after previously supporting broader tariff policies.

In Georgia, incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff challenged Republican Representative Mike Collins over the economic fallout of global tariffs, arguing they hurt local families and suppressed growth. Collins blamed inflation on federal spending backed by Ossoff and the Biden administration.

The Georgia debate turned deeply personal when Ossoff criticized Collins for his past staffing decisions, accusing the congressman of employing individuals who hold extremist and antisemitic views, and referencing controversial online posts made by Collins’s son-in-law. Collins responded by denouncing racism and antisemitism regardless of the source, while characterizing Ossoff's rhetoric as radical and arguing the incumbent has left the state less safe and economically worse off.

In Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins, seeking a sixth term, met Democratic challenger Troy Jackson in a competitive race where heating and energy expenses took center stage. Jackson pointed to his opponent's role on the Appropriations Committee, demanding action to restrict funding tied to the conflict in Iran and accusing Collins and her spouse of profiting from the war. Collins strongly rejected the claim, calling the accusation outrageous and demanding an apology while emphasizing her past votes supporting war powers resolutions.

Abortion access also generated friction between the Maine contenders. Jackson criticized Collins for her past vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who later voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. Collins maintained that she does not regret that confirmation decision and sought to redirect scrutiny toward Jackson's earlier legislative record on the issue.