Vice President Kamala Harris had 107 days as a presidential candidate to win over uncommitted Democratic primary voters who were protesting the Biden administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war. However, leaders from the Uncommitted National Movement and the “abandon Harris” campaign felt she did not do enough to distance herself from Biden or outline a different approach to the conflict. Trump’s early moves in the Middle East are being closely watched by these groups.
Harris faced criticism for aligning with the donor class and ignoring the working families in places like Dearborn, Michigan, where many Arab American voters felt ignored by the Democrats. Despite efforts by group leaders to engage with Harris on policy changes regarding the Middle East, they found little success in connecting with the candidate or her team.
Some campaign supporters decided to vote for Trump in protest against the Democrats’ stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict, feeling that Trump at least engaged with the community and offered promises of peace. Concerns remain about Trump’s potential policies in the region, especially with figures like Mike Huckabee being considered for key positions.
Overall, many former Democratic voters, like Farah Khan, felt that the party did not prioritize human life or adequately address the conflict in the Middle East, leading them to seek alternative options like the Green Party or voting for Trump. The lack of meaningful engagement and perceived insensitivity to the plight of Arab and Muslim Americans contributed to the disillusionment with the Democratic Party.
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