Residents of the American state of Michigan attribute the election loss for the Democrats to the genocide in Gaza

MICHIGAN, USA

Voters in the US state of Michigan, especially in the Arab-American center of Dearborn, sent a resounding message in the November 5 presidential election, motivated by opposition to the US position on the Gaza Strip.

Dearborn, where more than half of the population has roots in the Middle East, views the current U.S. administration as advocating genocide. Residents shifted support from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, contributing to Donald Trump’s nearly seven-point victory against Kamala Harris in the city.

The residents, who traditionally vote for the Democrats, have shown a major change in these elections.

In 2020, Trump received only about 30% of the vote in Dearborn, compared to Joe Biden’s 69%. This year, voters appeared to respond to what they see as a lack of action by Democrats against Israel in the more than year-long assault on Gaza that has left more than 43,000 victims.

“This community tends to vote with a majority of Democrats. Not this time,” resident Mohammad Abudrabo told Anadolu, reflecting his frustration. “I think regular people are not happy, and people who normally vote Democrat feel like they’re not being heard.”

He accused Democrats of losing “touch with reality.”

Abudrabo criticized the Democratic Party’s support for Israel, noting that “60% of Democrats oppose the genocide. So why not stop it when it comes to politics?”

Ali Altimi emphasized the great importance of Palestine for the community – regardless of party affiliation.

“Whether Republican or Democrat, the most important thing for us, and I think everyone in Dearborn shares this, is what’s happening in Palestine,” he said.

He indicated that even those not in politics or outside the Middle East community are concerned about the financial aid flowing abroad as Americans struggle with inflation. “With prices going up here, it seems like common sense,” he said.

Altimi hopes that a change in leadership can improve the situation at home and abroad. He said people are fed up and want economic stability. And they want the killings in Palestine to stop.

“So I think Gaza played a role in the Democrats’ loss.”

Since Israel began the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, most of the more than 43,400 Palestinians killed have been women and children, and more than 102,300 others have been injured, local health authorities said.

More than a year after the attack, large parts of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused at the International Court of Justice of genocide against the Palestinians.

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