Pro-Palestine voters in Pennsylvania could have a significant impact on Kamala Harris’ candidacy, as one progressive in Pittsburgh indicated. During a day of canvassing for Harris, volunteers encountered protesters outside her hotel chanting “Free Palestine.” When approaching a voter named Kevin, they noticed a poster of the Palestinian flag in his window. Kevin, a 30-year-old EMT, stated that the main issue preventing him from supporting the Democrats is their stance on Israel, specifically citing the Israel-Hamas War.
The No Ceasefire No Vote campaign is urging voters to withhold their support for Harris until a permanent ceasefire is reached in the Israel-Hamas conflict or until the VP commits to an arms embargo on Israel. In the 2020 primary, over 60,000 Pennsylvania Democrats voted against President Joe Biden at the urging of the pro-Palestine group Uncommitted PA. Given these numbers, voters like Kevin could be influential in determining the direction of Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes in future elections.
A survey conducted in late August found that 25% of Muslim voters in Pennsylvania plan to support Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate, while 37% would vote for Harris. Harris has expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself, despite acknowledging the high civilian casualties in the Israeli invasion of Gaza. During the presidential debate with Donald Trump, she reiterated the need for a two-state solution that ensures equal security for Israelis and Palestinians.
Kevin expressed frustration with the Democratic Party’s stance on progressive issues, such as gun control, voting rights, and Black Lives Matter, while still supporting actions that contradict those beliefs. He criticized the party for pushing out progressive candidates like Bernie Sanders in favor of more mainstream candidates. Kevin also highlighted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s comments on Jill Stein and raised concerns about the party’s tendency to pressure progressives to vote against their principles.
During discussions with a Harris volunteer, Kevin mentioned his disappointment with the Democratic Party, particularly for accepting the endorsement of former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, whom he considers a “war criminal.” Despite the volunteer’s attempt to shift the conversation towards abortion rights, Kevin remained focused on the issues surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict. He expressed skepticism about the party’s intentions and suggested that their actions were leading to self-sabotage in elections.
Overall, Kevin’s sentiments highlight the challenges the Democratic Party faces in appealing to progressive voters who have concerns about their stance on certain issues, particularly regarding foreign affairs. The engagement with voters like Kevin demonstrates the need for the party to address these concerns and find ways to better align with the values of all voters to secure their support in future elections.
