More than 100,000 voters in the Michigan Democratic primary cast ballots for “uncommitted” instead of President Biden on Feb. 27 due to his handling of the ongoing Israel–Hamas conflict, according to reports.
President Biden won Michigan’s Democratic primary election with 81.1 percent of the vote, with the Associated Press calling the race for President Biden immediately after the last polls closed at 9 p.m. ET.
However, roughly 13.3 percent of Michigan voters cast a ballot for “uncommitted” in the primary—making up around 100,995 of votes cast—with over 98 percent of the estimated votes counted, according to results compiled by the Associated Press.
The votes followed a weeks-long push by Arab and Muslim community leaders behind the “Listen to Michigan” campaign, which hoped to reach at least 10,000 “uncommitted” votes in the Democratic primary in an attempt to send a clear signal that some voters strongly reject President Biden’s “funding war and genocide in Gaza.”
The “uncommitted” votes mean that while voters are placing a party vote, they do not currently support any of the candidates listed.
In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, following Michigan’s primary, the campaign–which is backed by state and local lawmakers including Palestinian American Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.)–said its movement “emerged victorious tonight and massively surpassed our expectations.”
“Tens of thousands of Michigan Democrats, many of whom voted for Biden in 2020, are uncommitted to his re-election due to the war in Gaza,” the campaign said. It went on to note that people who voted for President Biden in 2020 “now feel completely betrayed.”
Voters Call for ‘Immediate, Permanent Cease-Fire’
“Count Michigan uncommitted for funding of war and genocide in Gaza,” the statement continued.
President Donald Trump also emerged victorious in the Michigan Republican primary, winning 68.2 percent of the votes to 26.6 percent for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, with 98 percent of the votes counted, according to the Associated Press.
That marked his sixth straight victory and his largest win yet.
President Biden won Michigan by a less than 3 percent margin in 2020, and some polls show likely Republican candidate President Trump ahead in a head-to-head match-up this time.
However, “Listen to Michigan” stressed it does not want President Trump back in the White House before accusing President Biden of putting Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu “ahead of American democracy.”
“We cannot afford to pay the bill for disregarding Palestinian lives should it come due in November,” the statement continued. “The only way to achieve freedom and justice for Palestinians surviving a genocide is through an immediate and permanent cease-fire. The only way to ensure the safe return of all hostages and prisoners is through an immediate and permanent cease-fire.”
Biden’s Hopes for Ceasefire Agreement
Michigan is a key swing state and also home to a large Arab American population.
However, the conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to waning support of President Biden among some Democrat voters.
Hamas killed 1,200 people and captured 253 hostages on Oct. 7, according to Israeli officials. The death toll in Gaza is nearing 30,000 people, according to Hamas.
Meanwhile, officials from the U.N. humanitarian office and the U.N.’s food and agriculture organizations have said that about a quarter of Gaza’s population–some 576,000 people–is on the brink of famine.
The latest surge in “uncommitted” votes in the Democratic primary in Michigan suggests President Biden may have cause for concern in his bid to win the swing state in November.
Still, earlier this week, President Biden said he hopes a ceasefire in Gaza can be reached by next week as his administration works to secure a six-week pause in the conflict to allow humanitarian aid before the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
“My national security adviser tells me that we’re close, we’re close, we’re not done yet. My hope is by next Monday we’ll have a ceasefire,” President Biden told reporters at an ice cream shop in New York on Feb. 26.
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
From The Epoch Times
