GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers clashed Thursday evening over policies involving the Middle East, healthcare, immigration and more in their first debate in the race for U.S. Senate in Michigan.

Here are five takeaways from their hourlong face-off in a crucial state for Senate control in November's midterm election.

Major Middle East differences

Michigan is in the middle of America, but it is the Middle East that has played a major role in this state's Senate race. That is a function of El-Sayed being a Muslim as well as Democratic Party division over U.S. policy with Israel. Rogers and Republicans have also continually tried to stir fears about El-Sayed's faith, ties to Muslim groups and his vocal criticism of Israel.

Rogers criticized El-Sayed for not better recognizing this week's three-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. "He could not bring himself to even acknowledge the pain, the terrorism, the rape, the murders," Rogers said.

"I've condemned that," El-Sayed said. "I don't turn it into political theater like you just did."

When asked by the moderator whether he considered Israel or Iran a bigger threat to America, El-Sayed called it a "ridiculous" question and disputed Israel's status as an ally. "Both of them have proven dangerous in their own way," he said of Israel and Iran. "One at risk of attacking us, one getting us into wars we have no business fighting."

Immigration disagreement

El-Sayed was far more critical of the actions of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement than Rogers, including the killing of two U.S. citizens on the streets of Minneapolis in January.

Rogers called the actions in Minnesota "probably not appropriate," while suggesting the administration's enforcement efforts have reduced crime. "It has been the largest decrease in murders ever recorded. Why? They were targeting murderers and rapists," he said.

ICE, El-Sayed said, has been "terrorizing our streets" instead of conducting proper immigration enforcement. "You don't have to do that by violating the whole Constitution in the way that ICE has been able to do by this rogue administration," he said.

The Democrat called for a "safe and secure southern border" and "a pathway to citizenship for folks who are stuck in limbo right now."

Healthcare differences

One of El-Sayed's signature policy positions is support for Medicare for All, something Rogers and Republicans oppose. In response to the moderator, the Democrat said he could still see a role for private insurance.

"If families want to keep their private health insurance, that's fine by me," he said. "I want to guarantee every single person in this country cradle-to-grave coverage without premiums, copays, deductibles, that doesn't have a network, that does not pay a corporate CEO tens of millions of dollars a year."

Rogers repeatedly questioned El-Sayed's medical credentials. "He's not really a doctor," the Republican said, before suggesting his opponent would "go to jail" if he formally treated a patient.

El-Sayed has called himself a physician, but there is no public evidence he has experience as a licensed medical doctor. He studied to be a doctor, but then moved into public health and then politics.

Border-state trade dispute

President Trump's trade war with Canada has been especially felt in neighboring Michigan. Earlier this week, Rogers broke with the president over tariffs on Canada, the latest step he has taken to distance himself from the administration's economic agenda.

"I would like to see the deal made," Rogers said. "I have actually called the White House this week, talked to the secretary of commerce about getting the deal done. Canada still has some high tariffs for U.S. goods, and they did this before this started. Those should be eliminated. There are tariffs that I think are too high and not helpful for us."

El-Sayed suggested Rogers has flip-flopped on the issue and called for "smart tariffs" that are tied to manufacturing jobs that "protect our own market."

Postdebate debate

The debate continued less formally in the "spin room" after the televised session ended, with both candidates asked about people they prefer not to talk about.

Asked by a reporter whether he would campaign with President Trump at his side, Rogers declined to directly answer. The president, who has recently recorded some of the lowest approval ratings of his political career, has said he plans to campaign in Michigan before the Nov. 3 election.

During the debate, Rogers said there are "a lot of people that want to hear from the president."

El-Sayed, meanwhile, was asked about his ties to Hasan Piker, a left-wing streamer. A question from a reporter suggested it is fair to ask him to respond to the things Piker says, if Rogers is expected to answer questions about what Trump says and does.

"That's a serious question?" El-Sayed asked. "Donald Trump is the president of the United States, which means he has significant power, including the nuclear football. And when he makes war, which he has the power to do, it is a very different thing than a streamer in California."