Harris Campaign Appoints Egyptian American Lawyer to Lead Arab Voter Outreach

Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign has hired Brenda Abdelall, an Egyptian American lawyer and former Department of Homeland Security official, to spearhead outreach efforts to Arab American voters, a crucial demographic in several key states that could influence the outcome of the November 5th election, Reuters reports. 

The campaign announced the appointment on Wednesday, emphasizing the importance of securing support from this community, which has expressed frustration with U.S. policies, particularly regarding Israel’s war in Gaza.

Abdelall’s role will involve engaging with Arab American voters, many of whom are dissatisfied with the Biden administration’s stance on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This move builds on the campaign’s earlier decision to hire Nasrina Bargzie, an Afghan American lawyer, to focus on outreach to Muslim Americans.

The stakes are particularly high in battleground states like Michigan, which has one of the largest Muslim and Arab American populations in the country. The state’s voters, who played a significant role in the 2020 election, have shown discontent with the Democratic Party’s current policies when more than 100,000 voters cast “uncommitted” ballots instead of supporting President Joe Biden in Michigan’s primary.

Harris’ campaign is operating in a highly competitive environment, facing off against Republican candidate Donald Trump. In a tight race, the votes of Muslim and Arab Americans could be pivotal.

Abdelall, who grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, previously served as senior counselor to the Department of Homeland Security’s secretary and has been involved in civil rights issues. Her appointment comes at a time when the Harris campaign is under pressure to address criticism from pro-Palestinian activists, outraged at the administration’s handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Harris is scheduled to visit Michigan next week.