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For the first time, Arab Americans will next month play a major role in a US presidential election. Their anger and despair over the war in Gaza has united the constituency in a new way. While many Arab Americans recognize that former President Donald Trump is more pro-Israel than the other major candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, many are determined to use their vote to express their opposition to the Biden administration’s support for Israel.

Arab Americans make up less than 1 percent of the US population. More identify with the Democratic Party than the Republican Party, but there are Arab Americans on both sides. They are a diverse group that includes different types of Muslims and Christians and family origins from a range of Arab countries. They are spread out among multiple states.

Historically, the Arab American community’s small size, diversity and lack of concentration in a particular part of the country limited its importance as a potential voting bloc. However, several factors have boosted Arab American voters’ ability to shape the US election.

First, the presidential election will depend on the outcomes in a few battleground states, where the race is very close. This situation allows small groups to have more influence and Arab Americans have significant numbers in several battleground states, most notably Michigan. Second, the last two presidential elections showed that Arab Americans can be a swing constituency, with the potential to back Democratic or Republican candidates. Third, the war in Gaza has unified Arab Americans........

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