Jill Stein surges ahead of Kamala Harris among Muslim-American voters in key swing states

Green Party candidate Jill Stein is gaining ground among Muslim-American voters in three critical swing states: Michigan, Arizona, and Wisconsin, according to a recent poll by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

Stein leads Vice President and Democrat candidate Kamala Harris in these states, with 40 per cent support in Michigan, 35 per cent in Arizona, and 44 per cent in Wisconsin. This surge in popularity appears tied to Stein’s vocal criticism of US support for Israel during the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

During Tuesday’s debate between Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump, Stein took to social media to criticise both candidates on various issues. She blamed the Biden-Harris administration for enabling the occupation state to commit war crimes.

Respect for the rule of law includes international law. Instead, Biden and Harris have been funding Israel's genocidal war crimes for almost a year, and interfering in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. #Debate2024

— Dr. Jill Stein🌻 (@DrJillStein) September 11, 2024

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Nationally, Muslim voters are split between Harris and Stein, with Harris holding 29.4 per cent and Stein close behind at 29.1 per cent. Former president Trump lags with 11.2 per cent, while 16.5 per cent of voters remain undecided. Trump’s controversial pledge to reinstate the “Muslim travel ban” may explain his lower support.

Despite dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s policies on Gaza, many Muslim voters are actively engaged in this election.

“Candidates running for office cannot afford to overlook the issues that matter most to Muslim Americans. Ignoring this community or taking their votes for granted could be a costly mistake, particularly in swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and Wisconsin, where elections are often won by narrow margins,” said CAIR’s Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw.

The poll highlights the significant role Muslim voters could play in key battleground states, with Stein’s anti-war platform resonating strongly in these communities. However, Harris retains a lead in Georgia and Pennsylvania, while Trump performs best in Nevada with 27 per cent support.

OPINION: Harris or Trump? They are two sides of the same imperialist, settler-colonial coin