Kamala Harris Has a ‘Moment of Hope’ With Arab Americans, But Not a Do-Over

Leaders in the community are willing to give the vice president a shot at earning their support. Meanwhile, Trump is struggling to break through.

Kamala Harris
Vice President Kamala Harris is introduced at an event at Discovery World. Morry Gash/AP

President Joe Biden’s decision not to run for reelection presented Democrats with a unique opportunity to reset and win back some constituencies that the party was struggling with — perhaps most notably Arab Americans.

“When President Biden stepped down, it provided a moment of hope,” Abdullah Hammoud, the mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, told NOTUS. “What I’ve been telling folks is that whether that hope blossoms or diminishes really falls on the vice president.”

While Harris has an opportunity for a fresh start with some constituencies, it’s unclear how Arab Americans will view the vice president. Bishara Bahbah, the chair of Arab Americans for Trump, a group trying to win over that community for former President Donald Trump, told NOTUS he doesn’t see Harris making much headway with those voters.