I went to Dearborn, MI and wrote about growing civic engagement in the Arab American and Muslim community there. Four years ago, then-candidate Trump won this battleground state by fewer than 11,000 votes https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-09-08/la-na-muslim-voters-presidential-election
Michigan overall recorded a 19 pt increase in Muslim voter turnout between the 2014 + 2018 midterm elections. Some analysts say Muslim Michiganders could help play a decisive role in this year’s election if they turn out in equal, or even greater, numbers https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-09-08/la-na-muslim-voters-presidential-election
It’s a trend that’s picking up in other cities and states. Nationwide, a record number of Muslims ran for office in 2018. More than 80 ran for state + local offices across the country in 2019; at least 39 of those won, per a report by CAIR + Jetpac https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-09-08/la-na-muslim-voters-presidential-election
Writing about MENA + Muslim communities, I've noticed folks assume 1) communities are monolithic 2) ppl only care about foreign policy. That's not the case. A recent survey showed Muslim American voters are focused on civil rights, education and healthcare https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-09-08/la-na-muslim-voters-presidential-election
Take Dearborn. Top of mind for many voters here are not only issues of immigration + foreign policy, but also hyper-local concerns including air pollution and asthma rates, particularly in the industrial south end, where there is a large Yemeni community https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-09-08/la-na-muslim-voters-presidential-election
“I think what we have been seeing,” says @_abuelbanat, “is really sowing the seeds for what will be the foundation of perhaps Muslim political consciousness for years to come.” https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-09-08/la-na-muslim-voters-presidential-election