Incumbent Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden faced a new challenger in the Michigan primary: “Uncommitted.” Groups of Michigan Democrats displeased with Biden’s performance as president voted uncommitted. Uncommitted votes made up 13.2% of the primary, numbering 101,436, coming in second 623, 415 votes for Biden, bringing him to 81.1% of the primary vote. Voting uncommitted is not a write-in for another candidate, but rather is intended to be a signal that the president must change his approach to key issues such as minimum wage, the border, and, most pressingly, Gaza, lest he risk losing votes in the general election.
The largest group of uncommitted voters were anti-Israel progressives angered by the extreme response the country has taken against Palestine. Many Michigan Democrats, previously supportive of Biden, feel he is not doing enough to reduce the impact of Israel’s defense on innocent Palestinians, often caught in the crossfire of bombings, blackouts, and attacks intended against Hamas. According to Israeli authorities, 1,200 Israeli citizens have been killed in Hamas attacks while 30,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israeli response, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry.
The uncommitted movement was launched by The Listen To Michigan Campaign, an Arab American activist group led by Layla Elabed. Elabed stresses that the movement “Is not an anti-Biden campaign,” but “It’s a protest vote.” Former US Representative and sponsor of the campaign Andy Levin stated “I think the great danger for Joe Biden here in the Michigan primary is that he would win with no indication that he has a problem, with no visibility of how angry people are.” In short, the uncommitted vote is not intended to force Joe Biden out of the race or endorse another candidate, but rather to utilize the right to vote as a means to voice discontent.
The Biden administration maintains that they are opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “over the top” response. They pointed to their efforts to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza, while acknowledging “missteps” made early on in the war.
In terms of the general election, many members of The Listen To Michigan Campaign and other activist groups are torn not only about how they are going to vote, but if they will vote at all. Many are unwilling to vote for current leading Republican nominee Donald Trump, but are hesitant to cast a vote for Biden while disagreeing with so many of his policies. Elabed voiced her understanding for people who were conflicted about voting in November, but emphasized “Do not stay home on Tuesday, come out and vote, and help us send that message to Biden.”
