In Dearborn, Michigan, a prominent Arab American community is closely watching the Senate race as Abdul El-Sayed seeks a historic victory. El-Sayed, a progressive doctor and former Detroit health director who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2018, has gained support amid a backdrop of ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Local activist Suehaila Amen expressed deep emotional ties to Lebanon, particularly the border town of Bint Jbail, which she says has been devastated by Israeli military actions. Amen described the community’s pain after nearly three years of war and destruction in Palestine and Lebanon, but also highlighted a growing hope inspired by U.S. politicians advocating to end government support for Israel.

Despite opposition from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which has spent millions to influence elections—including backing candidates against progressives like El-Sayed—the Arab American community remains optimistic. In 2022, AIPAC notably spent heavily to help a candidate defeat progressive Jewish labor organizer Andy Levin after redistricting forced a primary contest.

Amen also acknowledged Israel’s continued existence as a Jewish state, referencing a 2023 Hanukkah menorah lighting ceremony where support for the U.S.-Israel alliance was symbolized.

The Senate race in Michigan has come to embody a broader Democratic Party divide over Israel policy, with El-Sayed’s campaign representing a shift toward progressive stances within the Arab American electorate.

Sources