Kamala Harris faced significant opposition from segments of the Arab American community during her presidential campaign, with groups like the Uncommitted National Movement and the “Abandon Harris” campaign criticizing her perceived insufficient distancing from the Biden administration’s handling of the Gaza war. These groups felt Harris did not adequately address their concerns, leading many to vote against her or abstain from voting for president altogether, contributing to a significant shift in support towards Donald Trump in key demographics. While the Harris campaign cited outreach efforts and policy alignment, critics argued her messaging lacked a clear alternative vision and prioritized reaction to Trump’s rhetoric over proactive engagement with their concerns. The outcome left many feeling disillusioned with the Democratic Party and apprehensive about the incoming Trump administration’s Middle East policies.
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Donald Trump’s victory in Dearborn, Michigan, a city with a large Arab American population, highlights a growing disconnect between Democratic leadership and communities that once formed its base. Despite Trump’s history of demonizing Muslims, he won 42.5% of the vote in Dearborn, while Vice President Kamala Harris received 36%. This shift, which some attribute to frustration with Democratic support for Israel’s actions in Gaza, has left many Arab American voters feeling disillusioned with the Democratic party. While some, like Abbas Alawieh, a lifelong Democrat, still voted for Harris out of opposition to Trump, many, like Layla Elabed, felt they could not support a party that ignored their pleas for a more nuanced approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This election has exposed a need for the Democratic party to re-engage with its grassroots, listen to the concerns of its base, and address the issues that matter most to its constituents, lest it risk losing them to the opposing party.
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Our findings show that while Arab American voters in Dearborn, Michigan, favored Trump over Harris, they ultimately rejected both candidates, with a significant portion instead voting for Stein. This outcome, similar to our national poll, suggests a widespread dissatisfaction with both major party candidates. The Harris campaign’s decision to exclude Arab and Palestinian voices from the DNC and the Democrats’ messaging, particularly Bill Clinton’s controversial remarks on the Israel-Gaza conflict, likely contributed to this voter sentiment. Trump, meanwhile, successfully capitalized on these missteps, appealing to Arab American voters who remember the Cheney family’s history of supporting policies seen as harmful to their community.
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Donald Trump’s victory in Michigan in the 2024 election can be attributed in part to a significant shift in Arab American voters, who had expressed their dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during the Democratic primary. This dissatisfaction, fueled by the Biden administration’s strong support for Israel’s actions in Gaza, led to a large number of Arab Americans voting “uncommitted” in the primary. Trump, on the other hand, actively engaged with Arab American communities during the general election, resulting in a significant shift in their support towards him, particularly in cities like Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. This shift, although not the sole factor in Trump’s win, played a crucial role in his narrow victory in the swing state of Michigan.
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Donald Trump won Dearborn and Hamtramck, two cities with high Arab American populations, likely due to anger within these communities over the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict in Gaza and support for Israel. Trump campaigned heavily in these cities, focusing on economic issues and promising to bring peace to the Middle East. While Trump saw substantial gains in both cities compared to 2020, Harris still won Hamtramck, a city with a high percentage of immigrants. This election underscores the influence of foreign policy and economic concerns on Arab American and Muslim voters in the United States.
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John Q. Hosedrinker