Michigan U.S. Senate Voter Guide: El-Sayed, Rogers, Christensen, Long, Marsh and Kristy on Data Centers and Health Care
Six candidates are on the ballot for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election: Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, Republican Mike Rogers, Libertarian Lydia Christensen, U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Tim Long, Green Party candidate Douglas P. Marsh and Natural Law Party candidate Walter P. Kristy. Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat, is not seeking re-election.
The Digital Free Press voter guide video for this race compares the six candidates on two issues: data centers and health care. Here is where each stands, based on the video and the candidates' own statements.
Abdul El-Sayed (Democrat)
El-Sayed is a physician and former executive director of the Detroit Health Department, according to the Michigan Advance.
On data centers, the video says El-Sayed backs safeguards for data centers. In January he released what he called "terms of engagement" for developers, including zero utility rate hikes, data centers paying for their own energy and a meaningful say for local communities, the Michigan Advance reported.
On health care, the video says El-Sayed wants Medicare for All. He told the League of Women Voters of Michigan that one of the first bills he would sponsor would enact Medicare for All and eliminate medical debt nationwide.
Mike Rogers (Republican)
Rogers is a former congressman who chaired the House Intelligence Committee and a former FBI special agent, according to his campaign.
On data centers, the video says Rogers backs a data center moratorium. "I am calling for a one-year moratorium on new data centers until we establish a fair, transparent approval process that puts local communities first," he said, according to Planet Detroit, citing The Detroit News.
On health care, the video says Rogers wants price transparency and lower drug prices. His campaign's health care plan says patients "deserve to know the price before you get the bill" and calls for expanding TrumpRx to lower drug prices.
Lydia Christensen (Libertarian)
Christensen is a technology entrepreneur whose nomination was certified by the Libertarian Party of Michigan, according to her campaign.
On data centers, the video says Christensen backs a moratorium on new mega data centers. "I support placing a nationwide moratorium on new mega-sized data centers until federal and local legislators establish strict oversight and legal obligations for power, water, sound, and air quality," she told Lowell's First Look.
On health care, the video says Christensen wants an opt-in Medicaid for All plan. She has said people could keep an employer or union plan or enroll in a public plan with "zero deductibles or surprise bills."
Tim Long (U.S. Taxpayers)
Long is a full-time evangelist who served 26 years in the U.S. military and worked 30 years at Ford Motor Company, according to the League of Women Voters of Michigan guide.
On data centers, the video says no published position was found for Long.
On health care, the video also says no published position was found. In the League of Women Voters guide, Long answered the health care question by writing that he "completely" disagrees with Medicare for All.
Douglas P. Marsh (Green)
Marsh is a journalist from West Branch who also ran for the Senate as the Green Party nominee in 2024, according to Smarter.Vote and Ballot Atlas.
His campaign website does not list a position on data centers. Its platform covers affordability, universal health care, housing, a ceasefire and clean water.
On health care, the video says Marsh wants a single-payer system. Smarter.Vote reported that in a 2024 League of Women Voters questionnaire, Marsh said he supports single-payer health care.
Walter P. Kristy (Natural Law)
Kristy lists his occupation as educator and student of public affairs in the League of Women Voters guide.
On data centers, the video says Kristy wants to postpone new ones until all have power and water. Ballot Atlas summarizes it as waiting until citizens have adequate electricity and drinkable water.
On health care, the video says his campaign page has no health care position. In the League of Women Voters guide, Kristy said he would work to train more doctors in Michigan, encourage them to move where they are needed most and seek federal money for rural health care facilities.
Where to Follow the Candidates
Abdul El-Sayed: @AbdulElSayed on X. Mike Rogers: @MikeRogersForMI on X. Lydia Christensen: @lydia4ussenate on X. Walter P. Kristy: @walterpkristy on X. Tim Long: leadership1776.com. Douglas P. Marsh: electmarsh.org.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Lowell's First Look, "Candidate Q&A: U.S. Senate" (Oct. 15, 2026): https://lowellsfirstlook.com/candidate-qa-u-s-senate/ ; League of Women Voters of Michigan, 2026 Statewide Voter Guide: https://lwvmi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/VG2026Final-SingPg.pdf ; Michigan Advance, Voter Guide, U.S. Senate: https://michiganadvance.com/voter-guides/contests/u-s-senate/ ; Michigan Advance, "El-Sayed lays out policy 'terms of engagement' with AI data centers in U.S. Senate hunt" (Jan. 8, 2026): https://michiganadvance.com/2026/01/08/el-sayed-lays-out-policy-terms-of-engagement-with-ai-data-centers-in-u-s-senate-hunt/ ; Planet Detroit, "Senate candidates face data center scrutiny" (Sept. 2026): https://planetdetroit.org/2026/09/data-centers-michigan-senate-rogers-el-sayed/ ; Michigan Public, "Michigan's two major party candidates for U.S. Senate offer differing ideas for health care" (Sept. 19, 2026): https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-09-19/michigans-two-major-party-candidates-for-u-s-senate-offer-differing-ideas-for-health-care ; Mike Rogers campaign, Healthcare Plan: https://rogersforsenate.com/healthplan ; Ballot Atlas, Walter P. Kristy: https://ballotatlas.org/candidates/walter-p-kristy/ ; Smarter.Vote, Douglas P. Marsh: https://smarter.vote/races/mi-senate-2026/douglas-p-marsh/ ; Douglas P. Marsh campaign: https://www.electmarsh.org/
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