Michigan's Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed is turning up the heat on Republican rival Mike Rogers with a decidedly modern campaign tool: a retro-style video game that skewers the former congressman's Florida residency and his upcoming appearance at the GOP's midterm convention in Dallas.
The game, titled “COME HOME, MIKE,” features a pixelated Rogers standing on a boat, with the tagline: “Help Mike Rogers find his way from Florida back to Michigan. (He hasn’t managed it yet).” Players navigate Rogers' yacht through a watery maze from Cape Coral, Florida, to a football field in Michigan, answering trivia along the way.
The football motif is no accident. Rogers has previously accused El-Sayed of being anti-football, and El-Sayed has countered by challenging Rogers to a tackle game instead of a debate, which he says Rogers is avoiding. The game's obstacles force players to choose between “yes” and “no” on policy questions, but the “yes” option is always disabled—a pointed jab at Rogers' refusal to commit to specific votes.
One in-game prompt reads: “Mike, Michiganders are really struggling with the cost of prescription drugs. Will you agree to vote to lower prescription drug prices when you get to the Senate?” The only available option is “no,” a satirical nod to Rogers' perceived unwillingness to take a stance.
Rogers is slated to speak Thursday evening at the Dallas convention, where former President Trump is headlining the final night. Several Republican candidates in tight races have skipped the event, citing Trump's lagging approval ratings, the ongoing Iran War, and Democrats' recent gains in generic ballot polling. Trump's presence at the convention has drawn scrutiny, with some strategists worrying it could hurt GOP prospects in key states.
El-Sayed's game is the latest salvo in a feud that has seen him repeatedly slam Rogers for decamping to Florida after leaving the House. Last month, El-Sayed told Rogers, “if you want to be a Florida man, go be a Florida man.” The game drives that point home, forcing players to navigate Rogers back to Michigan—only to redirect them to Dallas at the end, where the convention is taking place.
Rogers' campaign fired back in a statement to The Hill, saying, “while [El-Sayed] plays games, we’ll keep talking to Michiganders. We’ve got a state to save.” The statement also highlighted a rental property owned by El-Sayed's wife in Dubai, as reported by The Detroit News, suggesting El-Sayed is not immune to out-of-state entanglements.
The exchange underscores the increasingly personal tone of the Michigan Senate race, which is seen as a key battleground in the fight for control of the chamber. El-Sayed's camp hopes the game will resonate with younger voters and highlight Rogers' perceived distance from Michigan issues, while Rogers' team is betting that voters will focus on El-Sayed's own controversies.
As the game circulates online, it remains unclear whether it will move the needle. But for now, the two candidates are trading barbs—one with a joystick, the other with a statement.
