The Arab-American community’s discontent with Joe Biden’s Israel policy is emerging as a potential electoral challenge for the Democratic incumbent in the upcoming November presidential vote. This discontent is particularly palpable in key swing states, where the Arab-American community wields electoral influence.
Over the weekend, Biden’s campaign manager faced a notable snub during a visit to Dearborn, Michigan, home to the largest concentration of Arab-Americans in the United States.
A group of officials, including the mayor of the Detroit suburb, declined to meet with Julie Chavez Rodriguez. The dissatisfaction stems from Biden’s request for billions in additional military aid to Israel and the administration’s repeated vetoing of UN Security Council calls for a ceasefire in the conflict.
Many Muslims and individuals of Middle Eastern heritage perceive this as a betrayal by the Democratic Party, their former political home.
Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, explaining his decision not to meet Rodriguez, emphasized the reduction of Gaza’s atrocities to a mere electoral problem by elected officials. This sentiment resonated with Dearborn residents who, in the face of daily horrors in Gaza, feel a deep sense of anguish since Israel initiated a military offensive following attacks by the militant group Hamas on October 7.
Amer Zahr, a law professor and comedian in Dearborn, expressed a strong stance, asserting that the community cannot support Biden or any politician unwilling to straightforwardly call for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict.
As the November 5 election approaches, Joe Biden anticipates a challenging rematch against likely opponent Donald Trump. Crucial swing states, including Michigan, Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, boast substantial Muslim and Arab-American populations, making them pivotal in the electoral landscape.
Historically, these socially and economically conservative groups were considered natural Republican voters, but their political affiliations shifted post-9/11 due to the surveillance policies and perceived Islamophobia during the George W. Bush administration.
While Biden secured a decisive victory among Arabs and Muslims in 2020, an analysis by Youssef Chouhoud, a quantitative social scientist at Christopher Newport University, suggests potential challenges in the upcoming election.
Drawing on polling data from sources such as nonprofit Emgage and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Chouhoud indicates that many within these communities may opt to stay home or vote for a third party in 2024.
In Michigan, for instance, this could translate to Biden losing approximately 55,000 votes, roughly a third of the 154,000-vote margin of victory he achieved over Trump in 2020, as detailed in Chouhoud’s insights shared on The Conversation.
Biden’s speeches and campaign events are witnessing a growing presence of pro-Palestinian disruptors, underscoring the internal divisions within Democratic circles. Younger, more progressive factions of the party express strong criticism of the president.
This discord is evident as even the prospect of a second term for Trump, known for the controversial “Muslim ban” immigration policy, fails to dissuade voters like Amer Zahr. Rejecting the notion of choosing the lesser of two evils, Zahr asserts they won’t be held responsible for the alternative.
Samra’a Luqman, a 41-year-old community organizer and co-chair of the “Abandon Biden” movement in Michigan, takes a more assertive stance. She suggests that some within the community may opt to vote for Trump as a form of protest.
Luqman emphasizes that the ultimate goal is not just to abandon Biden but to actively ensure his removal. Despite this stance, she expresses pride in certain Democrats, including Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and congresswoman Rashida Tlaib.
