Luqman, a Yemeni-American citizen, told BBC News World Service's The Global Story programme that everything comes down to Gaza.
"For me, everything is about Gaza," she said. "If your position on Gaza, Israel and Palestine is not right, we do not need you in power, and we will not vote for you. It does not matter which party you belong to."
Like Luqman, several voters angered by Washington's support for Israel helped the Republican Party secure victory in key states such as Michigan in 2024. Many of these voters had traditionally supported Democrats.
Michigan is now witnessing a closely contested Senate election for a vacant seat, a race that could play a crucial role in determining which party controls the US Congress for the remainder of Trump's term. Democrats are fighting to retain the seat, while Republicans are hoping to capture it. With polling day approaching, neither candidate has a clear advantage.
Democratic candidate Dr Abdul El-Sayed could become America's first Muslim senator if he wins the election on November 3. He has repeatedly described Israel's military campaign in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups as "genocide". Israel strongly rejects the allegation.
El-Sayed narrowly defeated a pro-Israel candidate in the Democratic Party's primary election. He is now facing Republican candidate Mike Rogers, a former FBI agent who served in the House of Representatives for 14 years.
Rogers has received Donald Trump's endorsement. Citing US national security, he opposes cuts to American military assistance to Israel.
While economic concerns and the cost of living usually dominate US midterm elections, the Gaza war has become a defining test for voters in Michigan. Both candidates have highlighted the use of American taxpayers' money in the conflict.
According to Brown University's Costs of War project, US military assistance to Israel had reached approximately $21 billion by September 2025.
Michigan has the highest percentage of Arab Americans of any US state. It also has a sizeable Jewish population that has traditionally been strongly supportive of Israel. Historically, both communities have been important Democratic constituencies.
However, in 2024, some Arab and Muslim voters dissatisfied with the Democratic Party's Middle East policy launched the Uncommitted campaign. During the primary elections, more than 100,000 voters declined to support any candidate, using their votes to express opposition to then-President Joe Biden's "unwavering" support for Israel.
When Kamala Harris secured the Democratic presidential nomination and indicated that she would continue existing policies, voters such as Luqman felt betrayed.
"I was very angry because I had been a Democrat my entire life. My anger was not just about them refusing to say the word 'ceasefire' or failing to try to stop the genocide," Luqman said.
"I was particularly angry because they stood by their position and said, 'We have done nothing wrong. We will continue our policies.'"
Luqman subsequently joined Muslim voters who supported Trump. She said she did more than simply vote for him.
"I did not just vote for him; I also campaigned for him," she said.
Although Luqman now identifies as a Republican, she is enthusiastically supporting Democratic candidate El-Sayed in the Senate race.
Another Arab-American voter, Amer Zahr, believes the 2024 election setback forced Democrats to embrace pro-Palestinian candidates such as El-Sayed.
"The Democratic Party does not always speak for me, and I do not think it always speaks for our community either," Zahr said.
"We had to bring about a revolution within the Democratic Party, and that is what we did in 2024. Following that change and the victories of candidates who have taken the right position on Palestine, we now feel more welcome there than ever before."
Changes within the party have given many Arab-American voters a greater sense that their concerns are being heard. However, another section of voters feels increasingly alienated.
Some are questioning whether El-Sayed would be able to protect the Jewish community during a crisis.
Following a violent attack at Temple Israel, a Jewish place of worship, in March, El-Sayed said, "People who are hurt hurt other people."
The attacker had lost relatives in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon. El-Sayed later apologised, saying he had not intended to justify the attack. However, his apology did not completely ease concerns among some Jewish voters.
Aaron Starr, president of the Michigan Board of Rabbis, has publicly stated that he will not vote for El-Sayed.
"This was a huge blow for us," Starr said.
Speaking to The Global Story, he added, "Most people in our community have voted for the Democratic Party. But now they feel that the language and actions of some Democratic Party members and some candidates are putting our safety at risk. I am not talking about the entire party."
Just as some Muslim Democratic voters in Michigan distanced themselves from the party in 2024, some strongly Democratic Jewish voters are now considering supporting the Republican candidate or staying away from the polls altogether.
Jordan Acker, a lawyer and University of Michigan regent, said his political identity as a Democrat was not his only consideration.
"I am a Democrat. But first and foremost, I need to have confidence that the person I am voting for respects me, my politics and my existence," he said.
Acker has known El-Sayed for 20 years, and the two studied together at university. Despite their longstanding association, Acker remains uncertain about whether he will vote for his former classmate.
Meanwhile, Rogers is attempting to win over Jewish voters by presenting himself as a strong friend of Israel. He has also described El-Sayed as "antisemitic".
Critics accuse Rogers of fuelling Islamophobia by portraying his opponent as sympathetic to Islamic extremism.
Rogers and Trump have both alleged that El-Sayed, whose family came to the United States from Egypt, has links to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed has repeatedly distanced himself from the organisation and denied having any association with it.
For a significant section of Michigan's electorate, the increasingly bitter Senate campaign is not only exposing political divisions but also intensifying racial and ethnic tensions.
However, David Freund, a Jewish voter supporting El-Sayed, is not particularly concerned about the long-term consequences.
"Protecting all minorities means protecting every minority community," Freund said.
"Jewish security cannot be protected by creating a separate category called 'Jewish security'. This is a bigger question about the democratic rights of all people."
As Michigan prepares to vote, the Senate contest has become a reflection of the divisions surrounding the Gaza war, US military assistance to Israel and the political loyalties of communities that have traditionally supported the Democratic Party.
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