US Presidential Elections 2024: Can Kamala Harris win back Michigan’s crucial Muslim vote?

In Michigan, a crucial swing state in U.S. elections, Democratic voters of Arab and Middle Eastern descent are signaling that Vice President Kamala Harris will need to regain their trust, following disillusionment with President Joe Biden’s response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Dearborn, a city of 110,000 and a significant cultural center for Arab Americans, could play a pivotal role in determining Michigan’s outcome in the upcoming presidential election. Local residents, once staunchly opposed to Biden, are now cautiously willing to hear Harris out as they consider their options.

“We are in listening mode right now,” said Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News. During the Democratic National Convention, Harris accepted the party’s nomination for vice president and vowed to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and advocate for Palestinian rights, including dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination.

Despite Harris’s pledge, frustration remains high among pro-Palestinian delegates, especially after their request to speak at the convention was denied. The group Muslim Women for Harris-Walz expressed their disappointment, calling the decision a “terrible message,” leading to their disbandment and withdrawal of support.

Harris, who has promised not to remain silent on Palestinian suffering, recently met with leaders of the “Uncommitted” movement, which had opposed Biden during the Democratic primaries. While no specific commitments were made, Harris’s empathetic approach reportedly resonated with the group.

At the heart of the community’s concerns are Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, which have left the Palestinian territory devastated since the conflict erupted in response to Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023.

Michigan, a state historically tied to the automotive industry, has long been a key battleground for presidential hopefuls. Economic challenges in the 1970s led to an exodus from the state, while unrest in the Middle East brought new waves of immigrants from Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Palestine.

Dearborn, where nearly 55 percent of residents have Arab heritage, is deeply affected by the events in Gaza. “For many of us, when you talk about what’s happening in Gaza, these are our family and our friends,” said Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud.

Though Dearborn resembles a typical American town, it is home to the Islamic Center of America—the largest mosque in the country—along with numerous Middle Eastern markets, restaurants, and cafes. Over time, the Arab American community in Dearborn has grown in both size and political influence, transforming from a marginalized group into a significant political force.

Historically conservative, Arab and Muslim Americans initially supported George W. Bush in 2000. However, the U.S. “War on Terror,” which included wars in the Middle East and increased scrutiny of Muslim American communities, pushed many to shift their support to the Democratic Party.

In 2018, Rashida Tlaib became the first Palestinian-American elected to Congress, representing a milestone for the Arab American community in southeast Michigan. Additionally, three Arab-American mayors were recently elected in suburbs with histories of racial tension.

In the 2020 election, anger over former President Donald Trump’s travel ban on Muslim countries and support for Israeli settlements in the West Bank drove Dearborn voters to overwhelmingly support Biden, helping him secure Michigan by a narrow margin.

However, Dearborn residents are increasingly frustrated with being asked to choose between the “lesser of two evils” and are now demanding concrete actions, such as a permanent ceasefire and an end to U.S. weapons supplies to Israel.

“I think VP Harris has a window of opportunity,” said Faye Nemer, a community activist and CEO of the MENA American Chamber of Commerce. “She can either continue President Biden’s legacy or set her own agenda.”

The community has taken note of Harris’s choice of Tim Walz as her running mate, as Walz has shown a more conciliatory stance towards opponents of the war, contrasting with the hardline approach of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

But expectations are rising. “We don’t want crumbs anymore,” said Soujoud Hamade, a business lawyer and long-time Democrat, who pledged to vote for Green Party candidate Jill Stein if Harris fails to meet the community’s demands on the campaign trail.