Whitmer campaigns at Dearborn town hall with El-Sayed
September 1st, 20180 DEARBORN — At a town hall meeting on Monday Aug. 27 at the Arab American National Museum (AANM) in Dearborn, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gretchen Whitmer and her running mate, Garlin Gilchrist, joined forces with Abdul El-Sayed, the runner-up for the nomination, to speak with Arab Americans and Metro Detroit community...
Officials, Arab American Democrats rally behind party unity ahead of elections
August 31st, 20180 LANSING – Michigan voters are gearing up to elect candidates for governor, attorney general and secretary of state, among others, on November 6. Following the primary elections, which saw the defeat of progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed to his rival and establishment Democrat, Gretchen Whitmer, elected officials and Arab Americans...
Latino, Arab American candidate hopes to unseat indicted Republican Congressman
August 25th, 20180 Democratic Congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar was working on a TV advertisement to boost his exposure when news broke that his opponent, the heavily favored Republican U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, was indicted on corruption charges. The 29-year-old former Obama administration Labor Department official whose father is a Palestinian...
Wayne County voters, candidates demand answers for primary blunders
August 19th, 20180 DETROIT – More than 40 voters, elected officials and candidates crowded into a small room inside the Renalti Building on Monday, Aug. 13, to demand answers to the problems experienced by Wayne County voters during the August 7 primary election. The Wayne County Board of Canvassers convened a meeting to discuss the problems...
As more women run for office, state legislatures are poised to change
August 19th, 20180 WASHINGTON, D.C. — As women line up to run for U.S. political office at historic rates, state legislatures — where some of America’s most critical policy decisions get made — could see a slew of new female lawmakers after November’s vote, according to a Reuters analysis of election data. In Michigan, for example, a state...
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...
Obama endorses Latino and Arab American candidate for U.S. House seat in CA
August 18th, 20180 SAN DIEGO, California — A young Democratic congressional candidate of Latino and Arab descent is running against an incumbent in a traditionally Republican district. On Wednesday, August 3, he got a boost from his old boss, former President Obama. Ammar Campa-Najjar is vying to represent California’s 50th District against...
Another historic win and counting!
August 17th, 20180 This week, Arab and Muslim Americans scored another historic victory in Minnesota where Ilhan Omar won comfortably a Congressional primary election. Omar, America’s first Somali American legislator, won the Minnesota Democratic primary for Congress on Tuesday. The seat she competed for in the Fifth District is currently held by U.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...
Ilhan Omar wins Democratic Primary for Congress in Minnesota, makes history
August 15th, 20180 Minnesota state Rep. Ilhan Omar won the Democratic primary on Tuesday for the state’s 5th Congressional District, putting her on a path to make history. Omar defeated four other Democratic candidates in a crowded race to fill the seat that opened up when Rep. Keith Ellison (D) announced his bid to become the state’s attorney...
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......
