After a tight senate race, Peters defeats Republican John James
November 4th, 20200 MICHIGAN — The Arab American News has received conformation from Senator Gary Peters' (D-Michigan) campaign that he has won his reelection bid, defeating his Republican challenger, Trump-backed John James. "I am sincerely honored that the voters of Michigan have once again put their trust and confidence in me to represent them in...
Trump campaign sues Michigan, wants to halt vote counting
November 4th, 20200 MICHIGAN — The campaign of President Trump has begun its legal assault on the election. The campaign announced on Wednesday that it has filed a lawsuit in Michigan to stop the counting of ballots in the presidential election. “We have filed suit today in the Michigan Court of Claims to halt counting until meaningful access has...
Election Day in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights brings out more first time than experienced voters
November 3rd, 20200 DEARBORN/DEARBORN HEIGHTS — First time and experienced voters are still flocking to the polls to vote in person amid the COVID-19 pandemic. First time voter Jenna Shami of Dearborn Heights said she is excited to vote. "I just turned 18, so this is my first election and my first presidential election," she said. "I know who I'm...
Election Day in Hamtramck: Steady turnout, fire fighters hope to keep department intact
November 3rd, 20200 HAMTRAMCK — Precincts in Hamtramck showed a steady turn out by late afternoon, though the Election Day turn out seemed to be lower than expected for a major election. Hamtramck City Clerk August Gitschlag told The Arab American News that only 5,183 absentee ballots had been returned as of 3:30 p.m. Just under 700 AV were still...
U.S. Election Day unfolds smoothly, so far defying fears of disruption
November 3rd, 20200 DETROIT/ATLANTA — Americans by the millions waited patiently to cast ballots at libraries, schools and arenas across the country on Tuesday, in an orderly show of civic duty that belied the deep tensions of one of the most polarizing presidential campaigns in U.S. history. The face masks worn by many voters and the sight of...
Michigan officials promise safe, clean and accessible polling places on Tuesday
November 2nd, 20200 MICHIGAN — As clerks, election workers and municipal governments brace for Election Day, Michigan officials are now ensuring that polling places will be safe, clean and accessible. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said on Monday that election workers were taking precautions and are well equipped with masks, gloves,...
Polarized electorate, mail-in ballots could spark post-election legal “fight of our lives”
November 2nd, 20200 WILMINGTON, DEL — U.S. Election Day on Tuesday has all the ingredients for a drawn-out court battle over its outcome: A highly polarized electorate, a record number of mail-in ballots and some Supreme Court justices who appear ready to step in if there is a closely contested presidential race. The only missing element that would...
Poll shows Arab American voters favor Biden in 2020 presidential election
October 31st, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — A poll conducted by the Arab American Institute (AAI) in Washington, D.C. shows that Arab American voters prefer Joe Biden over incumbent Donald Trump for the upcoming Nov. 3 presidential election. The Yalla Vote Tracking Poll, released earlier this week, shows that a majority of likely Arab American voters...
Our endorsements: Vote for Biden, but hold him responsible
October 30th, 20200 Donald Trump has given Arab Americans no real choice in this election. Since the launch of his political career in 2015, he has denigrated and harmed Arabs and Muslims at every turn. He said, "Islam hates us." He proposed a "complete and total shutdown" on Muslims entering the country. Then, in his first week in office, he signed an...
Record-breaking early voting in U.S. election tops 80 million
October 29th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than 80 million Americans have cast ballots in the U.S. presidential election, according to a tally on Thursday from the U.S. Elections Project at the University of Florida, setting the stage for the highest participation rate in more than a century. The record-breaking pace, more than 58 percent of the total...
Exclusive: Q&A with Kamala Harris ahead of election
October 28th, 20200 DEARBORN — Democratic vice presidential nominee and California Senator Kamala Harris visited Metro Detroit last Sunday, making a notable, unannounced stop in Dearborn to grab dinner at the Khalaf Grill. The visit by Joe Biden's running mate was just one of several visits by both prominent Democratic and Republican candidates in the...
Viability of Arab American candidates, like Brian Mosallam, shows importance of the Arab vote
October 27th, 20200 MICHIGAN — Michigan could be the most important swing state in the country. And the Arab American vote could make the difference. Though Metro Detroit has its large concentration, Arab Americans have been an integral part of the historic and cultural fabric of the entire country. More so, Arab Americans enjoy a variety of...
“Baptism by fire” for newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Barrett
October 27th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Newly confirmed conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett faces a barrage of politically fraught cases in her first days on the job, as the court weighs election disputes and prepares to hear a challenge to the Obamacare healthcare law. On Monday, the Republican-controlled Senate pushed through...
U.S. early voting tops 60 million as historic pace continues
October 26th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than 60 million Americans have cast ballots in the U.S. presidential election with eight days to go, a record-breaking pace that could lead to the highest voter turnout in over a century, according to data from the U.S. Elections Project on Monday. The tally is the latest sign of intense interest in the...
Arab American votes can make a difference in this election
October 23rd, 20200 With less than two weeks left in this election season, by now many in our communities have already cast their vote. According to the Michigan Secretary of State’s office, more than 1.5 million Michiganders have already turned their absentee ballots in. That is phenomenal news. We have been working diligently to ensure that all......
Jill Biden visits Dearborn, promises Arab Americans a “seat at the table”
DEARBORN — Jill Biden, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, spoke at a voter mobilization event at the popular Shatila Bakery on Warren Avenue on Tuesday. The event was invite-only and not open to the general public due to COVID-19 concerns. Dearborn was one of four stops Biden made in the state this week, as...
Trump and Biden clash sharply over pandemic in less chaotic final debate
October 23rd, 20200 NASHVILLE – President Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden offered sharply contrasting views on the still-raging coronavirus pandemic at Thursday’s final presidential debate, seeking to persuade the few remaining undecided voters 12 days before the Nov. 3 election. Trump, a Republican, adopted a more restrained tone than he did......
Senator Sanders endorses Brian Mosallam for MSU trustee
October 22nd, 20200 LANSING — Michigan State University (MSU) Trustee Brian Mosallam has been endorsed by progressive Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for his 2020 re-election bid. Mosallam has been on the Board of Trustees since January 2013. He announced his reelection campaign in June, saying that he had decided to run after “careful...
Trump rejoices as Senate panel approves Barrett while Democrats boycott
October 22nd, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, the Republican-led U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved President Trump’s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to a lifetime Supreme Court seat despite a Democratic boycott, clearing the way for a final Senate confirmation vote planned for Monday. By a 12-0 vote, the panel approved Barrett with...
Secretary of state urges voters to hand deliver absentee ballots
October 21st, 20200 LANSING — With just two weeks until the election, Michigan’s secretary of state is urging voters to hand deliver their absentee ballots. Jocelyn Benson told the media during a press conference that voters are being urged to not risk post office delays. “Only the absentee ballots received by 8 p.m. on November 3 can be...
Jill Biden mobilizes voters at Shatila Bakery in Dearborn
October 20th, 20200 DEARBORN — Jill Biden, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, will be attending a voter mobilization event at Shatila Bakery on Warren Avenue in Dearborn on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 4 p.m. The event is invite-only and not open to the general public due to COVID-19 concerns. Dearborn is one of few stops Jill Biden will......
Wall Street climbs on optimism over stimulus deal talks
October 19th, 20201 NEW YORK — Wall Street’s main indexes inched higher at the open on Monday on hopes of a coronavirus vaccine by the year-end, while investors were also encouraged by signs an agreement in Washington on a fiscal package could be reached soon. Last week the White House proposed a $1.8 trillion stimulus package, but House Speaker Nancy...
D7 School Board candidates discuss their plans if elected
October 17th, 20200 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — With elections right around the corner, candidates for Dearborn Heights’ District 7 Board of Education discussed their goals if they were to be elected. Incumbent Board Member Mandy Diroff, who could not be reached for comment, is seeking another four-year term and is competing against newcomers Latanya Gater,......
Khizr Khan, father of a slain U.S. soldier, backs Democratic party again ahead of November election
October 16th, 20200 DEARBORN — Khizr Khan, the Muslim American parent of a slain U.S. army captain who rose to prominence in 2016 while campaigning for Hillary Clinton and calling out then-candidate Donald Trump for his anti-immigrant stance, is back in the pre-election fold. Khan, who is Pakistani, is again criticizing President Trump, this time for...
In split-screen town halls, Trump and Biden squabble over coronavirus response
October 16th, 20200 MIAMI/PHILADELPHIA — On Thursday, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden criticized what he called President Trump’s “panicked” response to the coronavirus pandemic, while Trump defended his handling of a crisis that has killed more than 216,000 Americans. The rivals spoke in simultaneous town halls broadcast on separate......
