Muslim voters election/ Muslim voting decisions/ Muslims presidential election/ Newslooks/ ATLANTA/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ With the Gaza conflict intensifying, many Muslim Americans face difficult choices in the 2024 presidential election. Disappointment over U.S. support for Israel has led some Muslim voters to consider third-party options or abstain from voting, while others support Kamala Harris, seeing her as the better option compared to former President Trump.
U.S. Muslims Seek Presidential Candidate Amid Gaza Crisis: Quick Look
- Difficult Choices: Muslim Americans are divided over whether to support Harris, Trump, or a third-party candidate, often conflicted by U.S. support for Israel in the Gaza crisis.
- Emotional Tensions: Voters express frustration, feeling overlooked by both parties and concerned about Middle East policies.
- Grassroots Campaigns: Groups like “No Peace No Peach” urge voters to consider Gaza when casting their ballots.
- Diverse Perspectives: Some support Trump for his “deal-making” approach, while others feel morally obligated to oppose him.
- Voting Impact: In swing states like Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, Muslim voters may influence election results if mobilized.
U.S. Muslims Struggle to Find Presidential Candidate to Support
Deep Look
As the 2024 presidential election nears, many Muslim Americans are experiencing an unprecedented level of frustration over the candidates’ stances on the Israel-Gaza conflict, leading some to rethink their political loyalties. Following recent U.S. policies supporting Israel, disillusioned voters are questioning whether they can back either Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, or Donald Trump, the former president and Republican nominee. This dilemma is particularly pronounced in swing states like Georgia and Michigan, where Muslim voters could sway election outcomes.
For Soraya Burhani, a Malaysian American voter in Georgia, the decision of who to support has been a painful process. Deeply troubled by the violence in Gaza, Burhani says she feels there is “no good choice” in this election. Though she ultimately voted for Harris, her choice was more an expression of opposition to Trump than outright support for Harris. Burhani, who helped launch the grassroots “No Peace No Peach” campaign, has been urging Muslim voters to consider the Gaza crisis as they vote. The campaign called for withholding support for Harris unless she committed to halting U.S. arms shipments to Israel, and it now encourages voters to follow their conscience.
Other voters like Latifa Awad, who has family in Gaza, chose to support Green Party candidate Jill Stein, viewing her vote as a message that “our voices matter.” Awad expressed her frustration with both candidates, citing their support for Israel. “People say if you don’t vote for Kamala, then you’re voting for Trump,” Awad said. “But they both support Israel.”
The struggle for Muslim American voters also highlights the shift in political loyalties. In 2020, about two-thirds of U.S. Muslims backed President Biden, according to AP VoteCast. But recent actions supporting Israel have left some feeling betrayed. Shafina Khabani, executive director of the Georgia Muslim Voter Project, noted that the community is “mourning, grieving, and angry.” Although community leaders advise against supporting Trump, whose 2017 travel ban affected several Muslim-majority nations, some are still questioning Harris’s support of Middle East policies.
In Michigan, a critical swing state, Trump has made inroads, securing endorsements from Muslim leaders, including two mayors. However, the Muslim American community remains divided, with some emphasizing the potential harm of another Trump presidency. Others believe Trump’s “deal-making” could foster a more stable Middle East. Jahanzeb Jabbar, who supported Trump in 2020, said he plans to vote for him again. “I see Trump as the better option for peace,” Jabbar stated, expressing doubt that things could be worse under Trump given the current state of the Gaza crisis.
These diverging views are also apparent within religious leadership. A group of imams urged Muslim voters to reject both Harris and Trump, framing a third-party vote as a way to avoid endorsing a party they believe has caused bloodshed. Meanwhile, other imams warned that any vote indirectly aiding Trump’s return to office would be a “strategic and moral failure.”
This internal debate is playing out among candidates as well. Harris and Trump have each sought support from Arab and Muslim American voters, tailoring messages for voters in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Harris’s campaign underscores her commitment to ending Gaza’s suffering while ensuring Israeli security. “She has been steadfast in supporting our country’s diverse Muslim community,” said Nasrina Bargzie, Harris’s outreach director for Arab and Muslim Americans.
At the same time, Trump’s campaign criticizes the Harris administration’s Middle East policies. Senior Trump advisor Brian Hughes argues that “failed foreign policy” under the Harris-Biden administration has led to “chaos” in the Middle East, promoting Trump as the leader who will bring peace to the region. Trump has highlighted his past support for Israel, particularly his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a move that resonated strongly with his base but alienated some Muslim voters.
For Georgia State Representative Ruwa Romman, a Democrat and the first Palestinian American in the state legislature, the stakes of the 2024 election feel personal. Romman, who had hoped to advocate for Palestinian issues on the Democratic National Convention stage, expressed frustration after that opportunity was denied. Romman said she had planned to voice support for Harris while calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. She is disappointed by what she perceives as a widening gap between the Harris campaign and the Muslim community. “It’s like they’re moving further away from each other,” she said. For Romman, voting is essential, even as she weighs how to address the suffering in Gaza. “If I believe there’s a chance to stop the genocide under Harris but no chance under Trump, don’t I have a moral obligation to vote that way?”
In Atlanta, Sabir Muhammad, a member of the city’s predominantly African American congregation at Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam, voiced his own hesitation. “As Muslims, of course, we’re disheartened by Gaza, and we can’t support the government being complicit,” he said. For Muhammad, Trump is not an option, but he felt torn about supporting Harris, viewing his vote more as a reluctant choice than an endorsement.
While Muslim Americans represent a small slice of the national electorate, their votes could prove decisive in tightly contested states. Community activists are working to mobilize voters, particularly young people, around a variety of issues, including healthcare and gun safety, as well as foreign policy. For some, the stakes of this election are higher than ever, balancing personal values with strategic considerations.
As November approaches, the debates within the Muslim community underscore broader questions about representation and influence in American politics. In Georgia and beyond, this election will test the ability of Muslim Americans to make their voices heard in a political landscape where they often feel overlooked.
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