The cities of Dearborn and Hamtramck, Michigan have the highest percentage of Arab Americans of all U.S. cities, with nearby Dearborn Heights also heavily Arab American. These cities have traditionally voted strongly Democratic. Not so in Tuesday’s Nov. 5 election. Economic issues were a factor, but the number-one issue in this year’s vote was the Biden administration’s fierce support for Israel’s genocide against Gaza, Yemen, and now Lebanon.
In Dearborn, where Joe Biden won a smashing 69% to 30% win over Trump in 2020, this time Trump defeated Kamala Harris 42.48% to 36.2%. In Dearborn Heights, Trump defeated Harris, 44% to 38.3%. In Hamtramck, where Biden had beaten Trump 85% to 14% in 2020, Harris managed to beat Trump, but only by 46.2% to 42.7%. Jill Stein received over 18%, 15% and 9%, respectively, in the three cities, also reflecting the anger at the Biden-Harris Gaza policy,
Trump has not been given a free pass to continue (or possibly worsen) the Biden policy. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud promised today: “While political pundits analyze the outcomes, here is what I know; votes are never promised to any party or candidate, especially from a community directly impacted by a genocide. More importantly, civic engagement does not start and end at the voting booth—the real work is every day before and after an election. My community and I will continue to hold the White House accountable to policies that will save and improve lives—now and into the future.”
