Former Detroit LGBT Republican Leader Backs Mike Rogers for U.S. Senate
Patrick Christie, former president of the Detroit chapter of LGBT Republican organization Log Cabin Republicans, backed Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers on WJR’s ’JR Morning on October 21, 2026. The appearance is documented in WJR’s episode description on Apple Podcasts.
According to the preview, Christie told hosts Chris Renwick and Jamie Edmonds why gay conservatives support Rogers and criticized the HIV/AIDS record of his Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed. The published description does not specify which of El-Sayed’s decisions he challenged.
Republican Rogers is a former U.S. House member, while El-Sayed previously led Detroit’s health department. As Associated Press reported, they are competing for Michigan’s Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Gary Peters, who decided against seeking reelection. On his campaign website, Rogers pledges to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States, lower everyday costs and protect retirement and healthcare programs.
On September 17, the Human Rights Campaign’s political action committee endorsed El-Sayed. The organization highlighted his leadership of Detroit’s Ryan White HIV program and work with LGBT Detroit to improve LGBT residents’ access to healthcare. Its statement also cited his commitment to restoring federal funding for HIV programs and pre-exposure prophylaxis, or medication taken to prevent HIV infection. This was the position of an organization backing the candidate, published before Christie’s interview.
Log Cabin Republicans brings together conservative gay men and lesbians and their allies within the Republican Party. Urania previously reported on a new list of congressional candidates endorsed by the organization’s political action committee.
