DEARBORN, Mich. (RNS and NPR) — Jumana Judeh understands why so many in her Arab American community voted the way they did in last week’s presidential election, even as she had tried to get them to change their mind, endorsing Kamala Harris in the final days before the election.
“It wasn’t the outcome that I was hoping for. But at the same time, I think the Arab community got their message across that we could no longer be taken for granted,” said Judeh, a Christian and a Palestinian American. “Even though we’ve paid a heavy price.
“I’m scared. I have no clue what Trump is going to do. I don’t think Trump knows what he’s going to do,” she added.
Home to one of the largest Arab American communities in the country, Dearborn, Michigan, has long been considered a Democratic stronghold. This election, the city went Republican for the first time since 9/11, with 42% voting for former President Donald Trump and only 36% supporting Vice President Harris. Nearly 1 in 5 voted for third-party candidate Jill Stein.
For months, including throughout the primaries, Arab Americans and Muslims around the country have vowed to vote “uncommitted,” third party or Republican in protest of the Biden administration’s continue …