DEARBORN — On Tuesday, July 22, the independent, non-partisan Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) announced its endorsements for Michigan’s Aug. 5 primary elections. 

Members of AAPAC use a democratic process to vote on which candidates to endorse. Only candidates who obtain two-thirds of the vote are endorsed.

Candidates running in local races seek AAPAC’s endorsements in an effort to gain support from Arab American voters in metro-Detroit. 

Since June, AAPAC has interviewed several individuals who’ve sought its endorsement, including all five of the democratic candidates for Wayne County executive. 

Attorney and AAPAC secretary Mona Fadlallah said it was tough for the group to vote on a final decision in many of the races. 

“We spend a lot of time deliberating about what candidates to endorse before a final decision is made,” Fadlallah said. “We may go in with our minds made up about who we want to endorse, but sometimes we change our decisions based on the different insight or knowledge other members share during the deliberation process about a candidate. We consider all different opinions before we make a final vote. That is what is so great about the democracy of the process.” 

After some deliberation, the group decided to endorse Debbie Dingell, democratic candidate for Michigan’s 12th Congressional District; Rashida Tlaib, democratic State Representative for Michigan’s 6th House District who is running for state senate in the 4th District; Stephanie Chang, democratic candidate running for state representative in Michigan’s 6th House District; Dearborn Board of Education President and democrat Hussein Berry, who is running for state representative in the 9th House District; Rashid Baydoun, democratic candidate for Michigan’s 11th House District; democrat Tony Trupiano for the 13th House District and democrat Warren Evans for Wayne County Executive. 

“AAPAC makes its decisions based on the best interests of the community,” said AAPAC President and attorney Ali Hammoud.  

Once AAPAC endorses a candidate or ballot proposal, its members will campaign on behalf of the candidate or proposal. Hammoud said the group is seeking volunteers to help it prepare for Election Day and distribute its slate at election precincts. 

“We are doing a lot to get the community informed about AAPAC’s slate for the primary election,” he said. 

In the past, AAPAC has sent bilingual newsletters and brochures on elections and candidates to thousands of registered Arab American voters in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. Hammoud asked people in the community to help AAPAC support its chosen candidates.

“We have to work on making sure we get the vote out,” he said.