'Uncommitted' Voters in Michigan Send Stark Message to Biden Over His Israel-Gaza Policies - U.S. News - Haaretz.com
WASHINGTON – The campaign to vote "uncommitted" in Michigan's Democratic presidential primary in protest of Joe Biden's Israel policy earned over 100,000 votes according to the New York Times, sending an undeniable message about widespread discontent throughout much of the Democratic base.
The total well surpassed its stated goal of 10,000 votes, and organizers noted that "uncommitted" is expected to win at least one delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August. While the numbers are much higher than anticipated, turnout in the primary has similarly been greater than years past. Based on voting percentages, Biden is still on pace to win approximately 80 percent of the vote, with "uncommitted" only slightly outpacing vote shares of recent elections.
The Michigan Democratic Party allots delegates based proportionally on votes in each congressional district, and organizers anticipate they will receive more than 15 percent in at least one congressional district in Michigan.
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Michigan campaign manager Layla Elabed – Rep. Rashida Tlaib's sister – said the results will likely mean "Michigan will be sending at least one delegate to Chicago to declare that they are uncommitted to the Democratic nominee as long as he or she funds Israel's war in Gaza."
"Today's results and our delegation represent a historic inflection point for creating a Democratic Party that aligns with the majority of its voters who want a cease-fire and end to unrestricted weapons funding for Israel's war and occupation against the Palestinian people," she added.
"I want to thank every Michigander who made their voice heard today. Exercising the right to vote and participating in our democracy is what makes America great," said Biden following his victory, the closest he came in an extensive statement toward recognizing his discouraged voting base.
President Joe Biden addressing striking United Auto Workers on the picket line in Michigan in September.Credit: Evan Vucci/AP
Michigan has been the epicenter of internal Democratic outrage over Biden's approach on the Gaza war, but the discontent predates October 7. Biden's perceived failure to hold Israel accountable for its actions has alienated the state's significant Arab-American and Muslim-American populations.
Prominent community leaders have been murmuring for months that the Democratic establishment, and Biden in particular, are failing to understand how alienating his policies have been throughout his term. These include admitting Israel into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program despite failures to ensure reciprocity for how all American citizens are treated at Israeli ports of entry.
The events of recent months, however, have pushed some voters nationwide past a point of no return. Michigan embodies all the key elements of the Democratic base that Biden has alienated while seeking reelection. Beyond the aforementioned Arab and Muslim populations, Michigan also holds a large Black population, as well as young progressive voters throughout the state's university campuses.
Michigan was already set to be a key swing state in 2024 after Trump won it in 2016 by 10,000 votes and Biden in 2020 by 150,000 votes. The state is home to some 300,000 people of Middle Eastern ancestry alone, which doesn't even account for the aforementioned alienated base.
U.S. officials, who have been attempting to quell the damage over the past several weeks, did not attack the campaign but attempted to express empathy toward the pain felt by the community.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest outside the University of Michigan president's house in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in October.Credit: Jacob Hamilton/Ann Arbor News via AP
"Senior officials have gone to Michigan as of late to meet with Muslim and Arab Americans during a deeply personal and painful moment. We understand what they're going through, we understand what this means to the community and the president understands that too," said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
"We know it's been a difficult time. He cares about what that community is feeling very deeply," she continued, "and we believe it's important they feel that they're able to express themselves and voice their feelings and concerns."
"While we've noticed a small shift in language from Biden as a direct result of this campaign's pressure, we know that his words are not enough. This isn't a messaging problem, this is a funding bombs problem," Elabed said.
"We don't want a Trump presidency, but Biden has put Netanyahu ahead of American democracy. We cannot afford to pay the bill for disregarding Palestinian lives should it come due in November," she added.
Some of the Jewish Democratic establishment, however, cast doubt on how serious of a threat the "uncommitted" votes pose for Biden.
"Those who voted 'uncommitted' in this Michigan primary did so knowing that President Biden would easily win. That will not necessarily be the case the next time he's on the ballot, when any vote for a third-party candidate, protest position, or non-vote is effectively a vote for Donald Trump," said Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America and a Michigan native.
"We are confident that when faced with the stark choice between President Biden and Donald Trump in the general election, American voters – including Michiganders – will once again choose Biden because they know he is defending democracy and delivering for the American people while Trump poses a grave threat to the future of our democracy, freedom and values," she added.
Others have noted that almost 20,000 people voted uncommitted in 2020 during an active primary when there was no organized campaign, while 10 percent of Democrats voted uncommitted in 2012 instead of voting for then-U.S. President Barack Obama. With attention drawn to the possibility of voting uncommitted, it has become a receptacle for everyone who has a beef with President Biden," said Democratic Majority for Israel Chief Communications Officer Rachel Rosen.