Arab American voters are not disengaged from democracy—they are disengaged from political institutions that fail to represent them. According to this report, Arab Americans are among the most politically-engaged voters in California, yet they navigate a political system that neither reflects their priorities nor earns their trust. Disillusionment here reflects distrust, not apathy.

According to this report, Arab American voters are values-driven with a primary concern on material, moral, and civil impacts. They desire a stable economy and civil life alongside social justice, particularly in their stance on Gaza.

41.7% reported that they had been targeted by a hate crime or knew someone who had been.

The survey reveals that a significant portion of Arab-American respondents have experienced hate crimes. Among those affected, only about a third reported the incident, suggesting barriers to reporting or hesitancy to do so. When they reported, most (80%) contacted community-based organizations, whereas fewer (40%) contacted local police or the FBI (5%). Additionally, many respondents found the reporting process neither straightforward nor accessible; only 40% reported it was simple. These barriers undermine effective institutional responses and reinforce reliance on community-based systems.

Public Trust

The survey results reveal generally low levels of trust and perceived engagement from public officials among Arab-American voters in California. Only 5.6% believe public officials care a great deal about their opinions. However, a majority (66.7%) find it very or somewhat important for public officials to engage directly with their community, while an overwhelming 87.7% feeling they are underrepresented.