DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – There is a push for Democratic voters in Michigan to vote “uncommitted” in the state’s primary on Tuesday to protest President Joe Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza. Michigan’s Democratic governor, however, is warning against the protest vote.
The Israel-Hamas war still devastating Gaza after nearly five months may have an impact on how votes are cast in this year’s election for U.S. president. In Michigan -- home to the nation’s largest Arab population -- Democrats are being asked to vote “uncommitted” instead of voting for incumbent Democrat Biden in the state’s primary election on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Since Biden is expected to secure the Democratic nomination for president by a longshot across the county, the movement to vote “uncommitted” in Michigan is largely symbolic. Leaders of Listen to Michigan, one of the groups behind the effort, say the protest vote is meant to “send a clear message” that they “strongly reject Biden’s funding war and genocide in Gaza.”
“We’re seeing a genocide unfold right in front of our eyes in 2024,” Layla Elabed, Listen to Michigan campaign manager, told Local 4. The group is calling for a cease-fire, and for the president to support one.
What’s behind the “uncommitted” vote movement
Palestinians in Gaza have been subject to incessant Israeli bombing, displacement, and a lack of food and resources since Oct. 7, 2023. The latest fighting between Israel and Hamas, the group that rules the Gaza territory, was trigged by Hamas’ surprise attack in Israel that October day, taking about 250 hostages and killing about 1,200 people, according to the Israeli government.
More than 29,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the fighting began in October, the Gaza Health Ministry reports. The total number of people wounded in Gaza nearly reached 70,000 as of last week.
Groups like Listen to Michigan and Our Revolution -- a progressive political group also pushing for the protest vote -- partly blame Biden for failing to take steps to prevent the loss and destruction in Gaza. Though Biden’s response to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has recently shifted toward disapproving, the president initially stood firmly in support of Israel, and had long maintained that support through rhetoric, funding and weapons.
The U.S. also just recently vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza for a third time. The U.S. instead circulated a separate resolution supporting a temporary cease-fire linked to the release of all Israeli hostages.
Biden is seeking reelection this year, hoping to once again defeat his former opponent, former President Donald Trump. But those behind the “uncommitted” vote push say Biden has to earn their vote “through a dramatic change in policy.”
“President Biden has been a successful candidate in the past by representing a broad coalition, but right now he’s not representing the vast majority of Democrats who want a ceasefire and an end to his funding of Israel’s war in Gaza,” Listen to Michigan’s website reads. Elabed said voting “uncommitted” is a humanitarian vote focused on saving lives.
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Michigan gov. warns against votes not cast for Biden
Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is warning against the “uncommitted” vote, saying such votes serve as leverage for Trump.
“It’s important not to lose sight of the fact that any vote that’s not cast for Joe Biden supports a second Trump term,” Whitmer said on CNN on Sunday.
The governor said she understands the pain caused by the war in Gaza, but feels anything that hurts the Democratic ticket during the election will ultimately do more harm than good.
“A second Trump term would be devastating -- not just on fundamental rights, not just on our democracy here at home, but also when it comes to foreign policy. This was a man who promoted a Muslim ban,” Whitmer said on CNN. “This is a very high stakes moment. I am encouraging people to cast an affirmative vote for President Biden.”
When it comes to vote tallies, Whitmer has a point: Votes cast outside the traditional two-party system aren’t often successful. Third-party candidates do not win presidential elections. At least, they haven’t in the past. History shows it’s difficult for third-party candidates to gain enough momentum to win.
Votes for third-party or Independent candidates do make an impact, however, by taking away from votes that would otherwise be cast for the Democratic and Republican nominees. And in 2024, polling shows those third-party votes may take away from Biden’s final tally more so than Trump’s. That’s why many Democratic politicians are requesting the country come come together in support of Biden, even if only to ensure Trump’s demise.
“We need to be clear-eyed about the threat Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans pose to working people and the choice Michiganders will face at the ballot box this November: our reproductive freedoms, our economic opportunity, and our democracy are all on the line,” said Lavora Barns, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party.
Some are concerned the movement to vote “uncommitted” may fragment the party at a time when unity is of utmost value to the Democratic Party.
What does voting “uncommitted” actually mean?
On every Michigan voter’s presidential primary ballot, the “uncommitted” option is available on the Democratic and Republican sides of the ballot.
“When a voter selects ‘uncommitted’ this implies that they are exercising a ‘party vote’ but are not committed to any of the candidates listed on the ballot,” the state’s website reads. This vote is tallied and reported just as any other vote would be.
According to the state, enough “uncommitted” votes could allow the party to send “uncommitted” delegates to the national nominating convention -- though Biden is expected to receive the Democratic nomination this year, either way.
Listen to Michigan is hoping to get at least 10,000 Democratic voters to select “uncommitted” in the primary election to show the power of the Arab-American and Muslim vote in Michigan.
“Trump only won Michigan in 2016 by about 10,000 votes,” the group says on its website. “Uncommitted Michigan Democrats opposed to Biden’s policy in Gaza can demonstrate that we hold his margin of victory for re-election.”
A WDIV-Detroit News poll found in January that 38.3% of Michigan votes said Israel’s response to the October 2023 Hamas attack had “gone too far.” About 28% of Michigan voters said the U.S.’ support of Israel had been “too much,” while 31.7% said the support had “been about right.”
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