‘Uncommitted’ vote wins at least 1 delegate in Michigan against Biden

Decision Desk Headquarters results show Tuesday night that the Michigan Democratic primary won at least one delegate with a “non-commitment” vote, a blow to President Biden and Israel in Gaza. This reflects the deep dissatisfaction within some members of the party with the response to the war.

The “no commitment” protest vote was led by progressives opposed to Biden’s response to the Israel-Hamas war, particularly his resistance to supporting a full ceasefire in the conflict. The effort was supported by Arab American community leaders and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the first Palestinian American to serve in Congress.

According to Decision Desk Headquarters, Mr. Biden won the primary election with 81% of the votes as expected, but the “non-commitment” line received 13.3% of the votes. Biden won a majority of votes in all but two cities, Dearborn and Hamtramck, both suburbs of Detroit, which are home to the state’s largest Arab-American community.

Protest organizers were quick to declare victory Tuesday, noting that the effort has brought increased attention and criticism to Biden’s Middle East policy.

“Tonight our movement won a victory that far exceeded our expectations. Many of the tens of thousands of Michigan Democrats who voted for Biden in 2020 committed to reelecting Biden because of the war in Gaza. We haven’t,” said Leila Elabd, campaign manager for Listen to Michigan.

According to Decision Desk Headquarters, the “no commitment” line received about 20,000 votes in previous Democratic primaries, but this line received about 101,000 votes in Tuesday’s election. Mr. Biden received approximately 617,00 votes.

“Yesterday was a huge victory,” Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. “This is now not just an Arab or Muslim problem. This is now an American problem.”

“Mr. President, we hope that you will listen to our voices and choose democracy over tyranny,” Hammoud said.

Biden has rejected calls to support a long-term ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, instead working toward a second short-term ceasefire that faces obstacles from both sides amid tense negotiations.