Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has announced that she will not endorse Kamala Harris, as she declared during a union rally in Detroit. Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American woman elected to Congress, is also the only member of the progressive “Squad” who has not endorsed Harris; her colleagues, Ayanna Pressley (MA), Ilhan Omar (MN) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), expressed their support for the Democratic candidate back in July.
Tlaib’s decision is in line with a poll released Friday that found 43 percent of Muslim American voters support Green Party candidate Jill Stein. Democrats fear that support for the Green Party could subtract crucial votes, potentially benefiting Republicans; in the 2016 presidential election, Democrats blamed Stein voters for their losses in Michigan and Wisconsin, and they fear a similar scenario could play out on this Tuesday.
During the recent presidential primary, more than 100,000 Michigan voters registered as “uncommitted,” choosing not to take a position in protest of the Biden administration’s continued support for Israel’s invasion of Gaza.
Tlaib has voiced criticism of the Democratic Party’s stance on the escalating and violent conflict, stating that it was “hard not to feel invisible” after the party chose not to feature a Palestinian American speaker at its convention in Chicago last August.
On this particular point, during an interview with Zeteo, Tlain said that this lack “made it clear with their speakers that they care more about Israeli children than Palestinian children.”
“Our trauma and pain feel invisible to both parties,” she then continued. “One party weaponizes our identity as an insult, while the other refuses to listen to us. Where is the shared humanity? Ignoring us will not stop the genocide.”
Harris herself has faced significant pressure and criticism from Palestinian supporters, who have repeatedly urged her to break away from President Biden’s stance and adopt an arms embargo policy against Israel. During her campaign, Harris reaffirmed Israel’s “right to exist and defend itself” while also asserting that Palestine is entitled to “dignity and security.”
During a campaign rally in Wisconsin, Harris was approached by some protesters who accused Israel of genocide. In response, Harris stated, “I understand what you are talking about. I want a cease-fire, the conclusion of the hostage deal and an end to the war.”
Tlaib has also addressed strong criticism at Donald Trump, launching sharp attacks against the Republican nominee, who recently received support from the Muslim mayors of Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck. In a post on X, Tlaib wrote, “Trump is a proud Islamophobe and serial liar who doesn’t stand for peace. The reality is that the Biden administration’s unconditional support for genocide is what brought us to this point. This should be a wake-up call for those who continue to endorse genocide. This election didn’t have to be close.”
The political and electoral weight of this lack of endorsement for Harris is currently difficult to interpret, as both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are tied in the polls and everything hangs on the outcome of the seven swing states that will decide who will sit in the Oval Office for the next four years.
According to the latest poll conducted by 538, Donald Trump has a 53 percent chance of winning the election, while Kamala Harris has a 47 percent chance.
