The Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) announced Tuesday that it would not endorse either of the major party candidates, Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, in the upcoming presidential race.
This decision is seen as a warning sign for Harris, who, as the Democratic candidate, traditionally relies on the support of Muslim and Arab American voters. In the U.S., it is common for political lobbies, labor unions, and major newspapers to endorse a candidate as the election approaches. However, AAPAC broke from tradition, stating that both Harris and Trump have endorsed actions amounting to "genocide in Gaza" and supported war in Lebanon.
"We simply cannot give our votes to either Democrat Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump, who blindly support the criminal Israeli government," AAPAC's statement read.
This marks the first time since its founding in 1998 that AAPAC has chosen not to back a presidential candidate. Historically, the PAC has predominantly endorsed Democratic candidates.
In the 2020 election, Arab and Muslim Americans overwhelmingly supported Joe Biden. However, the Biden administration's continued support for Israel, especially since the conflict escalated on October 7, has significantly eroded the community’s support for the Democratic Party.