Detroiters can weigh in on election district maps
February 9th, 20240 DETROIT —Residents are being asked to show up, speak up and choose their preferred district map this month when the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) convenes public hearings for comments. The commission wants resident feedback to select from nine versions of a proposed district map plus an independent...
Election 2024: It’s not the economy, stupid
February 1st, 20240 In the run-up to 1992’s presidential election, chief strategist James Carville relentlessly hammered on a simple message for Bill Clinton’s Democratic campaign: “It’s the economy, stupid.” Social issues and foreign policy, Carville theorized, were mere distractions. Voters would prioritize their pocketbook prospects over such...
Poll: Trump beats Biden comfortably in Michigan — but loses to Whitmer
January 12th, 20240 Donald Trump would soundly defeat Joe Biden in Michigan — but the state’s Democratic governor would fare much better against Trump in a hypothetical matchup, a new poll showed. The poll, conducted by the Michigan-based Glengariff Group from Jan. 2 to Jan. 6, has the former president beating Biden by 8 points — 47 to 39 percent —...
How Arab American voters’ backlash could imperil Biden’s 2024 campaign
December 8th, 20230 Arab American and Muslim American anger over President Biden's handling of the Israeli war on Gaza could be endangering his re-election in the majority of 2024 swing states. Driving the news: Michigan, Virginia, Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania all have notable pockets of these populations. There aren't reliable statistics on how...
The Arab American News’ Publisher Osama Siblani: Here is what Biden needs to do to get our vote in 2024
December 8th, 20230 By Damita Menezes, (NewsNation) Osama Siblani, the publisher of The Arab American News, expressed deep dissatisfaction with President Biden’s approach to the Israel-Palestinian conflict in an “On Balance” interview raising concerns of Biden’s reelection chances in key swing states. Biden faces multiple challenges as he...
Beydoun is second Democratic senate candidate to refuse an offer to run against Tlaib instead
December 1st, 20230 Nasser Beydoun, a Dearborn resident and a Democrat seeking the U.S. Senate seat of retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), said he was offered campaign contributions of $20 million to quit the senate race and run against Democratic U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Dearborn) in the 2024 Democratic primary. Beydoun, a well known businessman...
Senate candidate Hill Harper rejected $20 million offer in campaign contributions to run against Rashida Tlaib instead
November 24th, 20230 Democratic U.S. senate candidate Hill Harper said he rejected a $20 million offer in campaign contributions from a Michigan businessman to pull out of the senate race and run against U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) in 2024. According to Harper, he declined the offer from the alleged donor, Linden Nelson, which would have split the...
Governor Whitmer calls for special election to fill vacant house seats
November 24th, 20230 LANSING - On Wednesday, Governor Whitmer sent a letter to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson calling for a special election to fill two vacant seats in the Michigan House of Representatives. The vacancy is caused by the elections of State Representative Lori Stone, who previously represented the 13th House District, to mayor of...
U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) won’t seek re-election
November 17th, 20230 FLINT – Democratic U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee announced he will not be seeking re-election in 2024. Kildee, who represents Michigan's 8th Congressional District, says that being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year helped him make the decision. "I was first elected to public office when I was 18-years-old," Kildee said in a...
Voters in Westland, Inkster, Melvindale and Warren elect new mayors; Livonia mayor wins reelection
November 10th, 20230 In Westland, State Rep. Kevin Coleman, (D-Westland), a former City Councilman, won the mayoral race with 59 percent of the vote over interim Mayor Michael Londeau. "I believe Westland needs a mayor who knows government and how to deliver results for all of us that live here," Coleman told the Free Press earlier this year. "My experience...
Hamtramck City Council remains all-Muslim, voters reject Proposals 1, 2 and 3
November 10th, 20230 The Hamtramck City Council will remain the only all-Muslim council in the U.S. after a community arts worker, Lynn Blasey, came in fourth place in a six-person race for three Council seats. Mayor Pro Tem Mohammed Hassan, one of three incumbent City Councilmen running for reelection, was the top vote-getter among the candidates, according...
Local Muslims and Arabs pledge to drive Biden out of office in 2024
November 10th, 20230 DETROIT – Local Muslim leaders and Palestinian Christians gathered in downtown Detroit on Thursday afternoon, vowing to drive President Biden out of office for failing to support a ceasefire in Gaza that could save thousands of lives. About 30 people, many holding signs that read “Abandon Biden”, stood outside the federal...
Former GOP U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer announces run for U.S. Senate
November 10th, 20230 GRAND RAPIDS – Peter Meijer, a Republican who served one term in Congress before being ousted by voters following a vote to impeach then-President Trump, announced Monday that he will run for the open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan. Meijer joins a field of more than a dozen candidates vying for the seat that’s been held by...
Dearborn Heights voters pick Baydoun, Malinowski-Maxwell and Saab for City Council, approve Westwood Schools bond proposal
November 10th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS – In the race for the three open City Council seats, City Councilman Mo Baydoun was the top vote-getter among the six candidates, garnering 4,085 votes or 30.2 percent, followed by former City Council Chair Denise Malinowski-Maxwell, who got 3,659 votes or 27 percent. Hassan Saab, who got 1,742 votes or 12.9 percent,...
Important races in the November 7 municipal elections
November 3rd, 20230 On Tuesday, November 7, municipal elections will be held in several cities in the Metro Detroit area, most notably Warren and Westland, where a new mayor will be elected in each city, in addition to two races for three City Council seats in Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck. Tight competition for three City Council seats in Dearborn......
No ceasefire in Gaza, no votes, Muslim and Arab Americans tell Biden
November 3rd, 20230 WASHINGTON, D.C. – More and more Muslim and Arab American groups are threatening to withhold donations and votes towards President Biden's 2024 reelection unless he takes immediate steps to secure a permanent Gaza ceasefire. On Tuesday, the National Muslim Democratic Council, which includes Democratic Party leaders from hotly...
New poll finds Arab American support for Biden plummeting
October 31st, 20230 By Peter Schurmann Support for President Biden among Arab Americans has plummeted in the wake of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to a new survey released by the non-partisan Arab American Institute. The survey of 500 Arab Americans found a 42 percent decrease in those who say they approve of the president’s......
Dearborn Heights Councilman Mo Baydoun named Council chair pro tem
September 14th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — After the sudden resignation of former Councilman Ray Muscat, the City Council voted for Councilman Mo Baydoun to step in as Council chair pro tem. Baydoun was appointed to a vacant City Council seat in January 2021 before being elected to a two-year term in November 2021. While he is up for reelection this...
Federal judge dismisses Fouts’ lawsuit against the Warren City Council
September 8th, 20230 WARREN – A federal judge has dismissed the lawsuit by Warren Mayor Jim Fouts against the City Council. Fouts' lawsuit may have been his last chance at getting a fifth term leading the city. Federal Judge George Steeh dismissed Fouts' lawsuit, which claimed his civil rights were violated because his name was not listed on the August...
Jocelyn Benson looking “closely” at 2026 run for Michigan governor
September 8th, 20230 LANSING – In 2026, voters will pick a new governor. Among those considering a run is Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. She told FOX 2 in an interview after Gov. Whitmer's speech last week that she was looking closely at a run. "A lot of people have talked to me about it," she said. "I go to many events and people come up to me and...
Wayne County Circuit Court rejects an appeal to a petition to recall Mayor Bill Bazzi
September 8th, 20230 DETROIT, DEARBORN HEIGHTS – Almost six weeks after the Wayne County Election Commission unanimously rejected a petition seeking to recall Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi, the Wayne County Circuit Court rejected an appeal to the recall petition, which was rejected by the three members of the commission on July 25, last......
Dearborn Heights: Sudden resignation of Councilman Ray Muscat raises questions for the general election and beyond
August 18th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS – On Wednesday, a few days after coming in third place in the Aug. 8 primary election and advancing to the November general election, Dearborn Heights City Council Vice Chair Ray Muscat announced his resignation, citing "health reasons." Muscat's resignation opens the door to a number of questions related to the...
Westland mayoral primary: Londeau to face Coleman in November general elections
August 12th, 20231 WESTLAND — It's down to state Rep. Kevin Coleman and interim Mayor Mike Londeau in the race for Westland mayor. Coleman, a Democratic member of the State House, and Londeau, a former council member appointed interim mayor in January, drew the most votes during the primary election on Aug. 8 and will advance to the November general......
Hamtramck primary: Five Muslims and pro LGBTQ candidate advance to the November elections, big NO to school millage renewal
August 12th, 20230 HAMTRAMCK – Voters in the Aug. 8 primary election rejected the school millage renewal and elected six City Council candidates, including five Muslims and an LGBTQ supporter, to advance to the November elections and compete for the three open seats. Lynn Blasey, who favors the flying of LGBTQ+ flags on government property, came in...
Dearborn Heights primary: Four Arab Americans out of six candidates advance to the general election in November
August 12th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS – In the Dearborn Heights City Council primary elections held on Tuesday, four Arab Americans out of six candidates qualified for the general elections on November 7. The six candidates will compete for the three open seats in November. The City Council will at least have one new member, due to the decision of Council......
