A prominent figure in the progressive congressional group known as “The Squad,” recently announced that she will not be endorsing Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election. That person is Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). This announcement could have serious implications for the Harris-Walz ticket, as Michigan is widely considered a must-win state for Democrats in 2024.
Tlaib has been outspoken against the Biden-Harris administration, particularly on foreign policy issues related to Israel and Palestine. For months, she has criticized the administration for its support of Israel, specifically its provision of military aid in the country’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. In earlier comments, Tlaib referred to the administration’s stance as supporting “genocide” in Gaza, statements that resonate with Michigan’s large Muslim community, many of whom share concerns over U.S. involvement in the region. During the Democratic primary, Tlaib played a key role in organizing Michigan’s “uncommitted” vote among Muslim voters, encouraging them to reject Biden’s campaign unless he advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza.
In November 2023, she issued a direct message to the president, saying, “Mr. President, the American people are not with you on this one. We will remember in 2024.” Now, with Harris heading the Democratic ticket, Tlaib has continued her holdout, even as other Democratic leaders rally behind Harris. At a recent United Auto Workers (UAW) rally, Tlaib notably refrained from mentioning Harris at all, despite UAW President Shawn Fain and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) offering their enthusiastic endorsements of Harris at the same event.
“Don’t underestimate the power you all have,” Tlaib told the crowd, emphasizing grassroots organizing over campaign endorsements. “More than those ads, those lawn signs, those billboards, you all have more power to turn out people that understand we’ve got to fight back against corporate greed . . . We’ve got to make sure that the nonpartisan part of the ballot gets filled in.”
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has recognized the Democratic discord as an opportunity. Trump has actively sought endorsements from Muslim leaders in Michigan, some of whom are Democrats disillusioned with the Harris campaign. He is scheduled to hold a rally in Dearborn, Michigan, a city with a significant Arab-American population, in the final days leading up to the election, hoping to sway undecided voters his way.
As Election Day approaches, Tlaib’s refusal to back Harris underscores fractures within the Democratic base, raising questions about whether the party can retain Michigan, a critical battleground, without the united support of its key constituencies.
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