Great stakes: Key demographics for Biden in Michigan scrambled by Israel-Hamas war

President Joe Biden is not only facing political consequences for his handling of the Israel–Hamas war with Arab and Muslim voters but also black and young voters, many of whom were already skeptical of his administration‘s record and community outreach.

The common interests and concerns of Arab, Muslim, black, and young people are poised to be underscored by Tuesday’s Democratic presidential primary in Michigan, a battleground state where Democrats are being encouraged not to vote for Biden, at least this week, and where margins will matter in November’s general election.

Sameh Elhady, vice chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party’s Arab American Caucus, described how his community has found “connections” with people from different backgrounds, from young liberal Democrats to black and Latino people, during the war regarding their disappointment with Biden as he and his administration try to appeal to those traditionally Democratic demographics before November.

“They are expressing also a certain level of pain based on humanity,” Elhady said. “We are not the same. We have all changed since Oct. 7.”

People “recognize a double standard with the Biden administration,” according to Dawud Walid, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’s Michigan chapter.