What are the electoral ramifications of this conflict if we voted today, assumed all other issues equal, and assumed an 11% increase in Jewish support for Democrats (from 69% to 80% and a 42% decrease in Democratic support, per the latest Arab American Institute Poll? (and assumed proportional distribution of voting participation and voting age and proportional distribution of +11% and -42% in each state's population?
TL;DR Summary: Republicans would flip Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin and win the presidency with 269 electoral votes, and the tie going to the House, where Republicans currently have a majority House delegation in 27 states.Details:
Last polled in 2020, Arab American support was 59% for President Biden. It now stands at 17%. Support for Trump increased from 35% to 40%, while Not Sure increased from 4% to 25%, and 3rd Party increased from 3% to 18%
The poll, released Tuesday, marks the first time since its inception in 1997 that a majority of Arab Americans did not identify as Democrats - 32% now identify as Republicans and 31% as independents.
The 2010 Census counted 1.6M Arab Americans. The 2020 Census counted 3.5 million Middle Eastern and North African (MENA), a category that had not been previously counted prior to 2020, while the Arab American Institute estimates 3.7 million for 2023.
- Arizona is estimated to have 95,000 Arab Americans. Biden won Arizona by ~11,000 votes. 11 electoral votes.
- Georgia is estimated to have 81,000 Arab Americans. Biden won Georgia by ~13,000 votes. 16 electoral votes.
- Michigan is estimated to have 500,000 Arab Americans. Biden won Michigan by ~15,500 votes. 16 electoral votes.
- Wisconsin is estimated to have 60,000 Arab Americans. Biden won Wisconsin by ~10,000 votes. 10 electoral votes.
Biden won by 306 electoral votes - 36 more than 270 necessary to win. Lose any three of those four states and the Biden path to victory depends on flipping North Carolina, a state with an estimated Arab American population of 91,000 that Biden lost by 74,000. The next best shot is Florida, a state Biden lost by 371,0000 with an Arab American population of 301,000.
The Jewish American population is estimated at 7.6 million, as a bloc they supported Biden over Trump 69% to 30%. The highest support as a bloc Jewish Americans gave to a Democratic president was Bill Clinton, at 80% in 1992 - so likely an 11% ceiling in increased support.
So let's say we had an election today, all else is equal (obviously it would not be), and that state populations of Arab Americans and Jewish Americans vote in accordance with national trends (another broad un-true assumption but the best data I have). Let's assume Biden enjoys an 11% increase in support in every state of Jewish-American voters, and a 42% decrease in Arab American support. We will assume uniform distribution of voting / non-voting aged population - 77.5% voting age, and then uniform turnout of 66% of that 77.5%
Arizona:- A Jewish-American population of 124,000. 63,000 estimated turned out voters. Net gain of 7,000 voters assuming 11% increase from 69% support for Biden in 2020.
- Arab-American population of 95,000, 48,000 estimated voters who will turn out. Net loss of 20,160 voters assuming 42% decreased support.
Net result of 13,160 less votes for Biden in a state he won by 11,000 votes. Arizona's 11 electoral votes go to Republican candidate.Georgia:- A Jewish-American population of 141,000. 72,000 estimated turned out voters. Net gain of 8,000 voters assuming 11% increase from 69% support for Biden in 2020.
- Arab-American population of 81,000, 41,400 estimated voters who will turn out. Net loss of 17,400 voters assuming 42% decreased support.
Net result of 9,400 less votes for Biden in a state he won by 13,000. Georgia margin of victory shrinks to 3,600.Michigan:- A Jewish-American population of 88,000. 45,000 estimated turned out voters. Net gain of 5,000 voters assuming 11% increase from 69% support for Biden in 2020.
- Arab-American population of 500,000, 255,000 estimated voters who will turn out. Net loss of 107,400 voters assuming 42% decreased support.
Net result of 102,400 less votes for Biden in a state he won by 15,500. Michigan's 16 electoral votes go to the Republican candidate.Wisconsin:
- A Jewish-American population of 33,500. 17,000 estimated turned out voters. Net gain of 2,000 voters assuming 11% increase from 69% support for Biden in 2020.
- Arab-American population of 60,000, 30,700 estimated voters who will turn out. Net loss of 12,900 voters assuming 42% decreased support.
Net result of 11,000 less votes for Biden in a state he won by 10,000. Wisconsin's 10 electoral votes go to the Republican candidate.11 Arizona + 16 Michigan + 10 Wisconsin = 37 electoral votes. 306 (Biden's electoral votes) - 37 = 269232 (Trump's electoral votes) + 37 = 269Tie goes to the House, where each state gets one vote according to who has the majority of the House of Representatives by party for each state - Republicans currently have a majority of House seats in 27 states, so there you have it, Republican president.