Here's how Harris and Trump are doing with Arab American voters
Given Michigan’s coin-flip status as a battleground state, demographically small constituencies can impact the final outcome of the presidential race. That’s certainly the case when it comes to the state’s Middle Eastern community, which numbers about 3% statewide, or about 300,000 people, according to the 2020 census.
A new national poll from the Arab American Institute finds split support among that community for the major-party candidates: 42% for Donald Trump and 41% for Vice President Kamala Harris. Another 12% support third-party candidates. A survey by YouGov for Arab News found Trump leading by a similar 45-43 margin.
Many have seized on those poll results to argue that if Harris, who has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, was willing to go further and support an arms embargo on Israel, the numbers would be different. Others despair as to why Arab voters would support Trump given his oft-stated desire to deport them.
As usual, the reality is quite complicated.