Green Party nominee Jill Stein has been recruiting Palestinian Americans to be her vice presidential running mate as the left-wing presidential candidate looks to exploit the community’s frustrations with Democrats' support for Israel during its war in Gaza.
Three potential candidates told NBC News Friday they had multiple conversations with Stein about the job. A spokesperson for a third potential candidate, the Democratic mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, Abdullah Hammoud, confirmed Stein asked him if he was willing to be considered for the job — before realizing Hammoud is too young to be constitutionally eligible.
Stein is planning to announce her running mate next Friday. It’s unclear whom she has chosen or if she has made her decision yet. The Stein campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Noura Erakat, a prominent human rights attorney and Rutgers University professor with a large following on social media, confirmed discussing the position with Stein and said she was disappointed by the way Vice President Kamala Harris shut down pro-Palestinian protesters in Detroit on Wednesday.
Arab and Muslim voters have typically voted Democratic. But President Joe Biden’s steadfast support for Israel turned off many Arab and Muslim voters, who comprise sizable portions of several battleground states, especially Michigan.
"To tell the base that she’s come here to win over that they need to shut up was awful," Erakat said. "She went in there and offered them nothing but bullying."
Erakat said some disaffected voters in her community are already lost to Democrats and planning to vote Green or for another third party, while another group "wants to support the Democratic ticket and just need the bare minimum" recognition.
Ahead of the Detroit rally, Harris spoke with members of the so-called Uncommitted Movement, which grew out of Democratic primary voters withholding their support as a means to protest the war in Gaza.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who is Palestinian American and represents Detroit, is one of just a few congressional Democrats who has not endorsed Harris.
Stein also approached Abed Ayoub, the executive director of the Washington-based American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, which calls itself as the largest Arab American grassroots organization in the U.S.
“It’s an honor to be considered for the position and something that I strongly considered and weighed heavily,” said Ayoub. “It’s not that Jill Stein is coming in to, quote un-quote, steal votes. She’s coming in to earn votes... Is it the politically smart thing to do? Obviously.”
Ayoub, who said he had “multiple conversations” with Stein about joining her ticket, said her outreach showed the growing power of the community, which has become more politically organized in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israeli civilians and the Israeli military response that followed.
Harris is hoping to win many of them back and has taken a tougher rhetorical line on Israel, but her policies towards Israel appear to be largely the same as Biden's so far.
The ADC released a poll of its members late last month that found Stein in the lead with 45% support, while Harris had the support of just 27% of members — which marked an improvement from the mere 7% backing Biden had in a May survey.
Ayoub praised Harris' choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who has a good relationship with Muslim and Arab voters in his state, as the Democratic vice presidential nominee. But Ayoub said he is far from sold.
“He was the right choice and it leaves a little crack in the door for engagement, but it will take a lot more work,” he said.
Meanwhile, Amer Zahr, a Palestinian American comedian and activist, said he also spoke with Stein about joining her ticket — and is committed to voting for her despite the newly remade Democratic ticket.
“I am honored by the consideration and I think it’s important that the Stein campaign is making that kind of direct outreach to Palestinian Americans and Arab Americans, especially in Michigan,” Zahr said. “It shows that, unlike the Harris campaign, she is serious about addressing the core issues in this campaign.”
Zahr said he was initially open to Harris, but soured on her after she “really disrespectfully” handled the protesters in Detroit, as well as when Harris, through an aide, made it clear she will not support an arms embargo on Israel.
“She could have said, ‘I hear you, we’re going to address this, and if you want it to get better, elect me instead of Donald Trump,’” Zahr said. “But instead she suggested we want to help get Trump elected...as if we owe her something and she doesn’t owe us.”
Democrats worry that third-party efforts like Stein’s will help re-elect Trump by splitting the votes of people who dislike the former president.
Stein and fellow left-wing third-party candidate Cornel West, the famous professor and civil rights activist, have been actively courting Muslim and Arab votes, as well as young progressives who have joined pro-Palestinian protests.
Both are scheduled to attend the National Arab-American Convention in Dearborn in September.
