The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance announced Thursday that Abdul El-Sayed, a candidate for the Michigan United States Senate seat soon to be vacated by Gary Peters, will appear at its “Agree to Disagree” event on Monday, September 21. El-Sayed, a Democrat, will take on Republican Mike Rogers this November in one of the most hotly contested U.S. Senate races in the entire country.

Described as one of Northern Michigan Chamber Alliances “cornerstone advocacy events,” Agree to Disagree will bring “Lansing insiders” to northern Michigan to discuss pressing political topics. This year’s event is scheduled for 3:30-5:30pm on September 21 and will feature political pundits John Sellek, founder and CEO of Harbor Strategic Public Affairs; and Adrian Hemond, CEO of Grassroots Midwest. Kyle Melinn, editor of MIRS, Michigan Information & Research Service, will moderate the conversation.

This year, the Chamber Alliance also hopes to offer “the first northern Michigan forum for the candidates vying for the U.S. Senate,” per Chamber Alliance Director Dakota Baker. The alliance invited both El-Sayed and Rogers to participate in the forum, and El-Sayed has now accepted the invitation. Rogers has not yet responded, but the invitation remains open to him until the event begins, according to a press release.

“We hope to engage both candidates in a conversation focused on creative policy ideas to support rural northern Michigan’s small business community,” Baker said of the planned forum. If Rogers opts not to attend, El-Sayed will simply field questions from Melinn.