Call on DNC Chair-Elect, Ken Martin, to Chart a New Path for Arab and Muslim Democrats in the Wake of Gaza Genocide and 2024 Election Setbacks
Washington, D.C. – Following Friday’s election of Ken Martin of Minnesota as the new Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), ADC and our partners look forward to working with Chair-Elect Martin as the Democratic Party charts a new path with Arab and Muslim voters. Following Israel’s 15-month genocide in Gaza, which contributed to the party’s loss of the White House and both houses of Congress this past November, the party must move ahead with good faith engagement and listen to voters over donors.
In the lead-up to the DNC Chair race, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) convened a meeting in Detroit with each of the Chair candidates—Governor Martin O’Malley, Ben Wikler, Marianne Williamson, Nate Snyder, Dr. Quintessa Hathaway, and Jason Paul—to discuss pressing issues affecting Arab and Muslim communities. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison attended on behalf of Ken Martin.
Following the Detroit meetings, ADC collaborated with other leading Arab and Muslim organizations to host a national Zoom call co-moderated by Palestinian-American Democratic operative and ADC Political Strategist/Fundraiser Mo Maraqa, and prominent activist and co-founder of MPower, Linda Sarsour. Over the course of nearly an hour, candidates fielded questions from national and local stakeholders, discussing:
• The DNC’s support of the genocide in Gaza.
• The losses in Arab and Muslim Democratic strongholds in the 2024 election.
• Plans to expand grassroots organizing in Arab and Muslim communities.
• The urgent need to implement transparent auditing of DNC finances.
Mo Maraqa, ADC Political Strategist and Fundraiser said:
“We believe that the path to a stronger, more inclusive Democratic Party is by ensuring that Arab and Muslim communities are recognized not merely as constituencies, but as real partners in shaping the party’s agenda. In light of the recent setbacks, we must prioritize honesty, transparency, and a renewed commitment to grassroots organizing. The stakes could not be higher. Arab and Muslim voters remain critical to future electoral success, and the Democratic Party’s ability to embrace genuine inclusion will define its path forward.”
Democrats Cannot Continue to Ignore the Negative Impacts of their Support of the Genocide in Gaza
Despite overwhelming calls for justice from both new and long-time Democratic voters, party leaders have largely remained silent on Israel’s 15-month genocide in Gaza—a stance many attribute to the influence of top donors. This silence, however, comes at a grave cost to the party’s electoral prospects and core values, as shown by a new poll from YouGov/ Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) Policy Project. The poll underscores the urgent need for the Democratic Party to rethink its unconditional support for Israel, given that such policies contradict the desires of a broad swath of Democratic voters and severely jeopardize the party’s future. The poll found:
• One-Third of Democratic Voters Stayed Home Over Gaza: Among the 19 million people who voted for President Joe Biden in 2020 but did not vote in 2024, nearly one-third cited the U.S.-backed war on Gaza as their top reason for abstaining—eclipsing even the economy (24%) and immigration (11%).
• Swing States in Flux: In states that flipped from Biden in 2020 to Donald Trump in 2024, 20% of non-voters said Gaza was the primary factor for staying home.
• Lost Enthusiasm for Harris: When asked whether a shift away from the White House’s pro-Israel policy would have made them more likely to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris—who replaced Biden on the 2024 ticket—voters who supported both Biden in 2020 and Harris this cycle responded 35 to 5 that a more principled stance on Gaza would have boosted their enthusiasm.
Advocates have repeatedly called for an arms embargo on Israel—citing U.S. laws that prohibit military aid to any nation obstructing American humanitarian relief—to align party policy with the demands of these voters.
The ADC calls on Chair-Elect Ken Martin, and Democratic leaders to stop prioritizing donor-driven support for Israel over the pleas of their own constituents—an approach that has demonstrably contributed to widespread voter disengagement in 2024.
Coalition Demands to the New DNC Chair
During both the Detroit forum and the national call, the coalition outlined four core demands:
• Appointment of At Least Five Arab and Muslim Voting Members to the DNC
Leveraging the Chair’s authority to appoint up to 75 at-large members, the coalition requested the immediate addition of at least five individuals from diverse Arab and Muslim communities.
• Comprehensive Plan for Arab and Muslim Voter Engagement
A robust, data-driven strategy that invests in community-based organizing, language-accessible campaign materials, and culturally informed voter outreach.
• Formation of a Dedicated Muslim Caucus
A formal caucus within the DNC to institutionalize Muslim perspectives on policy, campaigning, and resource allocation.
• Rebuilding Trust After the 2024 Downturn
Through stronger foreign policy platforms, protection of civil rights, and accountability in DNC governance, the coalition believes the party can mend its strained relationship with Arab and Muslim voters.
The 2024 Election Losses
The Democratic Party’s 2024 performance underscored the urgent need for these reforms:
• In Michigan’s Arab and Muslim strongholds, Vice President Kamala Harris received 22,000 fewer votes than President Biden did in 2020.
• Former President Donald Trump gained 9,000 votes in those same districts.
• Third-party candidates Jill Stein and Cornel West combined for 50,000 votes, indicating voter dissatisfaction and lack of strong representation from the Democratic Party.
• In the key cities of Hamtramck, Dearborn, and Dearborn Heights—home to the largest per capita Arab and Muslim populations in Michigan—the drop in Democratic support accounted for nearly 27% of the 81,000-vote difference between Harris and Trump.
Beyond Michigan, this disenchantment was mirrored in other battleground states, ultimately contributing to Democratic losses in the White House and Congress.
Looking Ahead
With Ken Martin at the helm, the ADC is hopeful that the DNC will take decisive steps to revitalize its outreach and address pressing policy concerns at both the domestic and international levels.
ADC and its partners stand ready to collaborate with the new DNC leadership in formulating and implementing these much-needed reforms.