Jill Stein, the US Green Party’s presidential candidate and a prominent advocate for Palestinian rights, has become the leading choice among Arab American voters as the November 5 US elections approach, according to a recent poll. The survey, conducted by the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the largest grassroots civil rights organization representing Arab Americans, reveals that Stein has secured the support of over 45% of Arab Americans.
Stein’s strong showing places her ahead of the presumptive Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, who garnered 27.5% of the vote in the same poll. The survey was carried out between July 27 and 28, with collaboration from the ADC, Molitico for data insights, and Community Pulse, a polling solutions specialist.
Abed Ayoub, the national executive director of ADC, attributed Stein’s popularity among Arab American voters to her outspoken advocacy for Palestinian human rights and her criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza since October 2023. Ayoub emphasized that the Arab-American voter demographic has increasingly supported Stein due to her principled stance on these issues.
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In a social media post, Ayoub stated, “Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein’s strong polling at 45.3%, akin to the previous poll, demonstrates consistent community support, largely because of her vocal stance on Palestinian human rights.” Stein has maintained her lead among Arab voters since ADC’s previous opinion poll in May, where she also led with 25% support. In contrast, President Joe Biden, who withdrew from the presidential race in July, and Republican candidate Donald Trump polled at 7% and 2%, respectively.
Arab Americans, who make up a significant voting bloc in the US, reported a population of 2.2 million in the 2022 Arab Community Survey. The majority of Arab Americans are native-born citizens, with ancestral ties primarily to Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Iraq. The states with the largest Arab American populations are California, Florida, Minnesota, and Michigan.
Ayoub noted that Biden’s declining popularity among Arab Americans was due to his strong support for Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza. The Israeli military launched a bombing campaign in Gaza following a deadly Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, during which over 200 hostages were taken. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 39,500 Palestinians in Gaza, including at least 15,000 children, with more than 12,000 others injured, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
Stein has consistently criticized Biden and his administration for their unwavering support for Israel. On August 1, she warned on social media that the Israeli government’s actions were dragging the US “into WWIII.” Her criticism intensified following the suspected Mossad assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah figure in Beirut, with Stein condemning the “deafening silence” from Biden and Harris on what she described as Israel’s “massive escalation toward a wider war.”
In a July 31 post, Stein demanded that “the US immediately cut off aid to Israel, mandate a ceasefire, and arrest war criminal (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) before he gets us all killed.” The killing of Haniyeh on July 31 has raised concerns about a broader regional conflict, with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowing revenge and warning Israel of “harsh punishment.” Netanyahu’s government has not claimed responsibility for Haniyeh’s death, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the US was “not aware of or involved in” the killing.
As the US elections near, Stein’s strong polling among Arab Americans highlights the growing significance of this community’s concerns in the national political landscape. Her continued advocacy for Palestinian rights and her criticism of US foreign policy in the Middle East have resonated with many Arab American voters, positioning her as a key contender in the race.
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