In the closing days of her campaign, Kamala Harris is making a final effort to reach out to Arab American voters who have turned away from the Democratic Party due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Harris expressed her commitment at a rally in East Lansing, Michigan, stating her intention to do everything possible to bring an end to the war in Gaza, secure the return of hostages, alleviate suffering in the region, ensure Israel’s security, and uphold the Palestinian people’s rights to dignity, freedom, security, and self-determination.
Arab Americans to vote for Trump over Harris
This appeal is underscored by recent polling data indicating that many Arab American voters—traditionally a dependable Democratic constituency—are now contemplating either abstaining from the election or supporting her opponent, Donald Trump.
A recent Arab News/YouGov survey found that 45 percent of Arab American respondents indicated they were most likely to vote for Trump, while 43 percent favored Harris. When asked who would be better for the Middle East overall, both candidates received equal support at 38 percent.
In the 2020 election, Joe Biden garnered about 59 percent of the Arab American vote.
Arab American voters for Harris
In Michigan, a critical swing state with over 200,000 Arab American voters, their choices could significantly influence the presidential election outcome. Current polling shows Harris and Trump are closely matched in the state, where Biden won by a margin of 154,000 votes in 2020.
The rift between the Biden administration and Arab American voters has been growing for a year, largely due to Biden’s unwavering support for Israel amidst the ongoing war in Gaza, which was ignited by a violent Hamas attack that resulted in 1,200 casualties in Israel.
Initially, Harris suggested a different perspective on the conflict after stepping into the leading role on the ticket from Biden. However, she has not clearly outlined how her approach would differ if she were elected president.
Gaza war
At the rally in East Lansing, she acknowledged the challenges of the year, recognizing the extensive death and devastation in Gaza, along with the civilian casualties and displacement in Lebanon. This sentiment mirrored her response to protests during a previous rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where demonstrators chanted about the conflict. Harris acknowledged the protesters and expressed a shared desire for the war to end promptly.
Yet, as the conflict drags on for more than a year, many in the Arab American community feel her words are insufficient.
There is a strong demand among many community members for Harris to endorse an arms embargo on Israel to help terminate the war, which has resulted in over 43,000 Palestinian deaths. Israel has also expanded its military operations into Lebanon against Hezbollah, leading to more than 3,000 fatalities.
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