Michigan holds the nation’s largest Arab American population per capita in the US, and it is anchored by a huge Lebanese diaspora largely from southern Lebanon. The controversy unfolds amid Israel’s assault on southern Lebanon, and as Israel and its military action are deeply unpopular among Democrats. Harris lost Michigan in 2024 by a narrow 80,000 votes, and by one estimate support for Israel cost her 100,000 votes here. A November 2024 Guardian analysis found a 22,000-vote swing away from Democrats in the three cities with the largest Arab American and Muslim populations alone. The interests of all Michiganders and Arab Americans are “one and the same”, El-Sayed said.

Source: The Guardian April 06, 2026 14:30 UTC