Trump supporters win key GOP primaries in Michigan
August 18th, 20180 All three Republican candidates in key races won in Michigan's August 7 primary election and will face their Democratic challengers in November. While Democrats in Michigan and across the nation are basking in the victories of progressive candidates, including minorities and women, Republicans supporting President Trump's...
Joe Biden endorses Whitmer for Michigan governor
August 15th, 20180 On Wednesday, former Vice President Joe Biden has endorsed Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic candidate for governor of Michigan. "Michigan’s middle class families need a governor who knows how to get things done, and that’s why I’m endorsing Gretchen," Biden said in a statement released by Whitmer's campaign. "Gretchen has spent...
Wayne and Oakland counties pass SMART millage, Macomb vote close
August 13th, 20180 Mt. Clemens— While voters in Oakland and Wayne Counties chose to approve a millage renewal for the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) through 2021 by wide margins, Macomb County voters approved the measure by just 23 votes. The final unofficial results showed the millage passed in Macomb 77,502 to...
Fayrouz Saad loses close Congressional race
August 12th, 20180 NORTHVILLE - Fayrouz Saad, who sought to replace the retiring David Trott as the U.S. representative for Michigan’s 11th District, lost a close race in the Democratic primary on Aug. 7. Saad came in fourth place in a tight race, earning 17,415 votes. Haley Stevens won the primary with 24,232 votes, while Tim Greimel came in second...
How do Dearborn residents feel about voting in the primaries?
August 12th, 20180 DEARBORN — During the primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 7, many residents expressed the importance of voting, with some saying that casting their vote would make a difference. “My role is to speak out and choose who is going to be helpful to the people,” a woman who voted at William Ford Elementary School told The AANews. “I...
Arab American candidates lose in Hamtramck primary elections
August 12th, 20180 HAMTRAMCK – Two Arab American candidates lost in the Democratic primary election in Hamtramck on August 7. Abraham Aiyash ran for State Senate in the Second District, while Saad Almasmari campaigned for the Fourth District seat in the Michigan House of Representatives. Aiyash earned 5,764 votes while his primary opponent,...
Little-known candidate unseats Knezek in Fifth Senate District
August 12th, 20180 DETROIT — Tuesday’s election brought to light a previously unknown political candidate with a questionable past, who unseated a usually popular state lawmaker. Betty Jean Alexander, a 53-year-old Detroiter, won the race with 54.5 percent of the vote after signing a waiver saying she wouldn’t spend more than $1,000 on her...
Bernie Sanders headlines rallies for El-Sayed days before primary
August 11th, 20180 DETROIT — Over the weekend, just days before Michigan’s primary election, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), campaigned for Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the progressive Democratic gubernatorial candidate. Sanders and El-Sayed attracted more than 1,400 people at a rally held at Cobo Center in downtown Detroit Sunday afternoon. El-Sayed...
Metro Detroit primary polling places run out of ballots, lose power
August 11th, 20180 DETROIT — At least 14 polling places in Metro Detroit over Tuesday’s primary elections experienced power outages, while others ran out of ballots. DTE Energy posted a video to its twitter feed 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, explaining that some polling places were still without power because of storms Monday evening. “Right now...
A historic election for Arab and Muslim Americans
August 10th, 20180 Michigan voters set a new record of involvement this historic primary election thanks in large part to the candidacy of Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the Progressive Movement led by Senator Bernie Sanders, and in a twisted way thanks to President Trump and his racist rants. Energy could be felt everywhere in this election. Rashida Tlaib’s...
Rashida Tlaib first Arab American Muslim woman elected to U.S. Congress
August 10th, 20180 DETROIT – On August 7, voters in the 13th Congressional District made history by choosing former State Rep. Rashida Tlaib in the Democratic Primary. This November, Tlaib will be the first Arab American Muslim woman elected to Congress – she’ll appear on the general election ballot with no opposition from a Republican candidate and...
Abdul El-Sayed’s gubernatorial bid sparks new engagement and hope for a progressive Michigan, despite loss
August 10th, 20180 DEARBORN/DETROIT – Abdul El-Sayed might have fallen short of the votes needed to win the Democratic gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, Aug. 7, and the possibility of going on to become the nation's first Muslim governor, but his platform’s momentum continues in full thrust among many progressives across the state. The 33-year-old...
Sam Baydoun celebrates primary victory in Wayne County Commission race
August 10th, 20180 DEARBORN — Long-time real estate associate broker Sam Baydoun won the Democratic primary election for Wayne County Commissioner in the 13th District on Tuesday, August 7 and will run unopposed in November. Baydoun, 54, sought the seat being vacated by Commission Chairman Gary Woronchak, who mounted an unsuccessful run for State...
Dearborn and Michigan voters set new voter turnout records
August 10th, 20180 DEARBORN— About 2.1 million people out of 7.4 million registered cast their votes in Michigan in the Aug. 7 primaries, with a nearly 28.6 percent voter turnout breaking records going as far back as 1978, according to state election officials. The results of Michigan's gubernatorial race mirrored most polls that had former State...
AAPAC endorses candidates in more races
August 4th, 20180 DEARBORN – Several key races are brewing that could alter the course municipalities and the state take as they face challenges like improving public education, fixing dilapidated infrastructure and lowering insurance premiums. After interviews and deliberations on August 1, The Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC)......
Our endorsements for August 7 primary elections – Part 2
August 3rd, 20180 Last week The Arab American News editorial board issued endorsements for eight key races in the upcoming August 7 primary elections, including Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan gubernatorial primary; incumbent U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich); incumbent U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, (D-Dearborn) for U.S. representative in the 12th...
My Muslim Vote rally in Dearborn motivates potential voters
August 3rd, 20180 DEARBORN — Organizers at Sunday’s My Muslim Vote rally held outside the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn encouraged the Muslim community to participate in local and state elections. Nada Al-Hanooti, executive director of the Michigan chapter of Emgage, an organization that encourages Muslims to vote and was a......
More progressives embrace ‘Abdul for Michigan’ even as he battles Democratic skeptics
August 1st, 20180 YPSILANTI — With the days fast counting down to Michigan’s Aug. 7 primary election, gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign has been taking Southeast Michigan by storm, as diverse crowds pack halls along his tour route. At his fourth rally of the weekend, Brown Chapel AME Church in Ypsilanti was filled with an...
Our endorsements for the August 7 primary elections
July 27th, 20180 This election is a defining event for America This election, for many reasons, is perhaps the most important one in America’s modern history. First, our democracy is in grave danger. During the last presidential election and since Donald Trump took office, there have been a systematic attack on our democracy at all levels. The...
Gubernatorial candidates outline visions for Michigan’s comeback
July 27th, 20180 As Michiganders seek to turn the state around, the governor’s office – plagued with wide-spread distrust – is being eyed as a worthwhile place to start, beginning with the August 7 primary election. Shortcomings like an education system that fails to produce enough skilled workers, non-existent public transportation and cities...
Two candidates for Detroit area State Senate seat have controversial pasts
July 22nd, 20180 DETROIT— Among the seven Democratic candidates seeking to fill a Detroit-area State Senate seat left open by a term-limited incumbent who pleaded guilty to federal theft and conspiracy charges, two have histories involving crime and controversy. Former State Sen. Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park) resigned after pleading guilty to......
Michigan Supreme Court hears arguments over anti-gerrymandering ballot proposal
July 18th, 20181 LANSING — The Michigan Supreme Court heard arguments challenging a proposed November ballot initiative to change who draws congressional and legislative districts every decade. The justices held a special session on Wednesday and asked many questions during 75 minutes of arguments. Voters Not Politicians, a group backed by the...
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell denies implying El-Sayed can’t win because he’s Muslim
July 16th, 20181 DEARBORN ― U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) has come under fire for implying during an interview with HuffPost at a rally in Ann Arbor on Saturday that gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed is less likely to win the election because he's a Muslim. Dingell is backing Gretchen Whitmer, a former Michigan Senate minority......
AAPAC endorses candidates in key primary races
July 13th, 20181 DEARBORN – Several key races are brewing that could alter the course municipalities and the state are taking as they face challenges like improving public education, fixing dilapidated infrastructure and lowering insurance premiums. After a passionate debate on Tuesday, July 11, The Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC)...
State senate candidates for third district share views on key issues
June 30th, 20181 DEARBORN - Two state senate candidates for the third district, State Rep. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) and Wayne County Commissioner Gary Woronchak, are competing in the August Democratic primary to replace term-limited State Sen. Morris Hood III (D-Detroit), who represents a district of about 215,000 residents in Dearborn, Detroit and......
