Arab-Americans are actively participating in American politics in unprecedented numbers, both as voters and candidates, according to experts in the United States.
Although there is no official government estimate of the number of Arab-Americans, civic organizations such as the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) estimate that there are between four and seven million Americans with Arab origins.
Of the total, Lebanese and Syria-Americans are thought to constitute the largest number, with significant populations of Yemeni, Palestinian, Iraqi and Sudanese-Americans, among others.
The largest concentration of Arab-Americans is located in the greater Detroit, Michigan area, with other significant Arab-American communities spread across California, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York and Virginia.
While a number of Arab-Americans have risen to prominence in politics and government, at a national level they remain relatively few and far between.
Of the 435 members of the House of Representatives, for example, there are currently 9 Arab-Americans, of whom the most prominent is Palestinian-American Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib, who in January 2019 became one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress alongside Somali-American Ilhan Omar.
Palestinian-American Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib
While there have been a handful of Arab-American Senators, there are currently none holding office. The most recent, New Hampshire Republican John E Sununu, lost a re-election bid in 2009.
In an interview with Arabian Business, the ADC’s policy director, Abed Ayoub, said that the organisation has recorded “a big increase in the number of Arabs running for office, at both the local and Federal level.”
“Of the Arab [American] community, an overwhelming majority are holding progressive views on a number of policy items that are aligning with the way the country is going,” he said. “They’re at the forefront of these movements, whether [with regards to] immigration, climate change or healthcare. They’re really involved.”
Good morning! Today is National Voter Registration Day. Make sure you are registered to vote, and so are your friends and family. Use the link below, only takes a few minutes. #VoterRegistrationDay https://t.co/Gn2fQrg9GP
— ADC National (@adc) September 22, 2020
At a local level, Ayoub added, having Arab-American candidates often helps combat negative or unfair perceptions of Arab or Muslim-Americans that been prevalent since the September 11, 2001 attacks and, more recently, the 2016 Presidential election and the administration’s proposed ban of citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.
“It helps to dispel some of the stereotypes,” he said. “But even in local races, some of them [the candidates] are attacked because of their background or heritage, or for having Arab ancestry. We encourage people to seek office, and we encourage people to get involved.”
“You have a good number of our community members that are motivated to vote, and motivated to get involved,” Ayoub added. “I think the challenge is who is listening to their voices.”
‘A domino effect’
Among the Arab-Americans who has felt compelled to participate in the US political process is Sudan-born Mohammed ‘Mo’ Seifeldein, an attorney who in 2018 successfully ran for City Council in the town of Alexandria, Virginia.
The population of the town – which is located just outside of Washington DC – is 34 percent ‘non-Caucasian’, with a sizeable population of Sudanese-Americans and others of Arab ancestry.
“The city of Alexandria is fairly diverse, but in its history, it had no immigrant, or Muslim, representing that diverse population,” Seifeldein said. “The community decided it needed a voice to represent them, and also represent the community at large and bring in a different perspective.”
While Seifeldein believes that the diversity of his constituency means that he and other immigrants are largely welcomed, he has still experienced the effects of anti-Arab and Muslim discrimination first hand.
“I recently received a letter that asked what the Taliban, ISIS and the Democrats all have in common. The answer? They all blow up statues,” he recalled, noting that the letter also accused him and other Arabs as having a “12th century” mindset.
US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks as Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) listen during a news conference at the US Capitol on July 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. Image: Getty Images
“The letter came from Texas. It wasn’t even from someone in our community,” he added. “But sometimes some of the [local council] decisions we make go beyond local news, and someone decides to send you something.”
Looking to the future, Seifeldein said he expects more Arab-Americans to vote, as well as run for office at the local, state and national levels.
It’s easy to hate! I Hope this made you feel better about yourself. ~peace~ pic.twitter.com/B7UfakIrzk
— Mo Seifeldein (@MoSeifeldein) August 27, 2020
“The communities we come from are beginning to understand the impact that they have on elections, on the community, and how decisions being made at City Hall impact them directly,” he explained. “In turn, that is making them more engaged with Democracy at a local level, and that turns their attention to the state and national level as well.”
In practice, Seifeldein said, increased interest in politics among Arab-Americans has led to more community members registering to vote, as well as become interested in joining electoral campaigns as volunteers or staff members, or mounting their own campaigns.
“There’s a domino effect that we’re beginning to see,” Seifeldein added. “It will take a little bit longer to get deeply rooted, but we’re beginning to see a change. There’s a spark.”
Impact on wider policies
An increase in Arab-American voter participation, analysts believe, will ultimately have an impact on US foreign policy with regards to the Middle East.
“I think the Muslim community in the United States has a large voice on foreign policy, because many people are in the United States because they came as refugees or other poor experiences,” said Sarah Elzeini, the founder and CEO of DC-based global advisory firm SMZ International Group.
“It should be expected that this community will speak up because they are frustrated and have turned to activism,” she added. “They may be able to influence policy since they are now American and constituents to districts, and we know Congressmen set policy.”
In August, Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden’s campaign released a platform that specifically addressed domestic and foreign policy issues that are of interest to Arab-American voters.
In the document, the Biden campaign vowed to reverse many of the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies, end the controversial ‘terrorism prevention’ programme, advance human rights in the Middle East and address issues of profiling and discrimination that impact the Arab-American community. Additionally, the campaign vowed to include Arab-Americans in his administration should he emerge from the November election victorious.
“As President, Biden will fight bigotry at home and around the world and stand with the millions of Arab-Americans who help strengthen America every day,” the platform said.
“Anti-Arab bigotry has been used in attempts to exclude, silence and marginalize an entire community, and Biden believes it must be rejected whenever it surfaces, including when it emanates from elected officials or those seeking public office,” it added.
To date, the Trump administration has not published a formal platform specifically aimed at the Arab-American community.
The Trump administration, however, has counted on the support of a number of prominent Arab-Americans, include Lebanese-American TV host and former judge Jeanine Pirro and Lebanese-American Republican congressmen Ralph Abraham, Garret Graves and Darin LaHood.
Another Arab-American, Egyptian-born Dina Powell McCormick served as the Trump administration’s first Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy early in Trump’s first term before departing in January 2018.
Five things we learned:
- Arab-Americans remain relatively unrepresented in US politics, particularly at a national level
- Experts believe that Arab-American interest in the American political process is unprecedented, both in terms of voters and candidates
- Some Arab-Americans believe that elected representatives from the community are key to having their voices heard at local, state and federal levels
- An increase in Arab-American voters may, in turn, have an impact on foreign policy decisions
- The Joe Biden campaign has published a platform aimed specifically at Arab-American voters. The Trump administration has yet to do so.
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