Michigan Surpasses Expectations with Over 100,000 Votes Cast in Protest of Unwavering US Support for Israel.
“In Dearborn, Michigan, Dubbed the Capital of Arab America, President Joe Biden Places Second in Democratic Primaries, Marking a ‘Groundbreaking’ Vote.
A Majority of Democratic Voters Opt for ‘Uncommitted’ Over the Incumbent, Reflecting an Organized Movement Against his Firm Backing of Israel’s Actions in Gaza.”
And it wasn’t confined to Dearborn alone. Initial results, disclosed early on Wednesday, indicate that over 101,000 individuals statewide joined the protest movement through their ballots.
Advocates argue that these figures represent a substantial rebuke to Washington’s staunch support of Israel, serving as a warning for Democrats as they approach the general election in November.
“It’s monumental,” remarked Palestinian-American human rights lawyer Huwaida Arraf regarding the “uncommitted” count.
However, Arraf, based in the Detroit area, stressed that Tuesday’s 101,000 votes don’t fully capture the escalating frustration with Biden’s policies. She noted that some voters chose alternative candidates to express their discontent with the incumbent president. Both Marianne Williamson and Dean Phillips, who contested Biden for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, have previously called for a ceasefire.
Phillips garnered 20,000 votes, while Williamson, who withdrew from the race before Tuesday’s voting, received over 22,000. Following the state primary, Williamson announced plans to relaunch her campaign.
Arraf further explained that many individuals opted not to participate in the process at all. She pointed out that the “uncommitted” campaign operated with limited resources and only commenced a few weeks before the election.
“The lack of confidence in Biden shown on Tuesday, coupled with anger towards Biden and people’s readiness to utilize their vote to express such profound discontent, should deeply concern the Biden team and all Democrats”.
The Listen to Michigan campaign, one of the driving forces behind the push to vote “uncommitted,” celebrated the outcome in a social media update.
“Tonight, our movement emerged triumphant and far exceeded our initial expectations,” the group proclaimed.
They pledged to sustain the pressure, at least until the Democratic National Convention in August, where the party will formally select its nominee following the state primaries and caucuses. However, the group has not yet issued a statement regarding its position on the general election, including whether it will advocate for a boycott of Biden at that time.
‘Historic’ Vote
The saying “every vote counts” holds particular significance in Michigan.
This is because in the general election held in November, presidential contenders vie for Electoral College votes through individual state competitions, ultimately determining the occupant of the White House.
Recent general elections have often hinged on a few critical “swing states,” capable of tipping the balance in favor of either the Republican or Democratic candidate.
Michigan, with a population of over 10 million, stands as one of these crucial states, often won by narrow margins.
For instance, in 2016, former President Donald Trump secured victory over his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, in Michigan by a margin of fewer than 11,000 votes, a pivotal factor in his ascension to the presidency.
In the 2020 election, Biden surpassed Trump by approximately 150,000 votes in Michigan—a number roughly equivalent to those who did not endorse Biden in this primary election. Recent polls suggest an even tighter race in the upcoming general election, should Biden and Trump face off again.
According to Sally Howell, director of the Center for Arab American Studies at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, the electoral calculus indicates that the Biden campaign “must pay close attention to Michigan.”
Howell emphasized that the importance of Tuesday’s vote cannot be underestimated, as Arab American and Muslim voters in the state demonstrated their electoral influence despite constituting a relatively small segment of the overall electorate.
She explained that the Arab American community accounts for approximately 2 percent of the electorate in Michigan. When combined with the Muslim electorate, which overlaps significantly with the Arab American community, they represent about 3 percent.
“It’s truly historic,” she told Al Jazeera. “And in terms of Arab American political engagement, it’s incredibly significant. I don’t believe they’ve ever garnered the level of attention from a presidential campaign as they have now.”
‘Not Over Yet’
In areas like Dearborn, dominated by Arab American and Muslim populations, the significance lies in the figures.
For instance, in Hamtramck, a town in the Detroit area believed to be the only Muslim-majority city in the country, the “uncommitted” category received 61 percent of the votes, compared to 32 percent for Biden.
However, even in regions without a notable Arab or Muslim presence, the uncommitted campaign showed strength, indicating that the movement has transcended individual communities.
In Washtenaw County, west of Detroit—a liberal stronghold housing the main University of Michigan campus—17 percent of Democrats voted uncommitted.
Overall, 13.3 percent of voters cast “uncommitted” ballots in Tuesday’s state primary, with nearly all votes tallied, significantly surpassing the Arab American and Muslim representation in the state.
Howell explained that these results serve as a harbinger for other state races, especially with Super Tuesday— the day hosting the most state primary contests— looming next week.
“It’s also not concluded,” Howell emphasized. “Other swing states with Arab American, Muslim American, or African American communities in solidarity with Palestinians, or a young, educated population, are going to take notice of what’s happening in Michigan.”
In nearby Minnesota, which boasts a sizable Muslim and Somali American population, advocates have intensified efforts to encourage residents to vote “uncommitted” in the state’s Super Tuesday primary.
The Michigan campaign “has demonstrated that we CAN influence Biden’s actions with added pressure,” wrote Asma Nizami, advocacy director at the Minnesota-based organization Reviving Sisterhood, in a social media post.
Nevertheless, the future remains uncertain, with some “uncommitted” voters suggesting that a policy shift from Biden could still sway their vote.
Others, including supporters of the Abandon Biden campaign, argue that the administration cannot undo the damage already inflicted.
Palestinian-American comedian and organizer Amer Zahr is among those advocating for continued efforts to prevent Biden from securing a second term. He characterized Michigan’s vote as a “clear rejection of Biden’s disastrous policies of support for the Gaza genocide.”
“Now, the work continues. We must maintain our stance of denying Biden our votes. For the martyrs in Gaza. For our dignity. Otherwise, we become like Ted Cruz, and nothing else matters,” he stated to Al Jazeera, referencing the Republican senator who endorsed Trump despite Trump insulting Cruz’s wife.
In response to Michigan’s results, Congressional Progressive Caucus chairperson Pramila Jayapal underscored the necessity for a “dramatic policy and rhetorical shift from the president on this issue and a new strategy to rebuild a real partnership with progressives in multiple communities who are absolutely key to winning the election,” during an interview with CNN on Tuesday.
However, Biden’s statement expressing gratitude for the over 618,000 votes cast in his favor in Michigan did not acknowledge the “uncommitted” movement or the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Instead, he thanked the influential United Auto Workers union, which has advocated for a ceasefire while still endorsing Biden. He also pledged support for bolstering the state’s auto industry, addressing infrastructure challenges, and assisting working families.
“This fight for our freedom, for working families, and for Democracy is going to take all of us coming together,” he asserted in his statement. “I know we will.”
Biden’s approach appears to align with the argument put forth by some Democrat-aligned commentators who believe the Gaza conflict will not be a significant issue come November, as they anticipate the US news cycle will have moved on by then.
However, Palestinian rights advocates cautioned that the Michigan vote should serve as a warning to Democrats not to assume that voters have short memories. They argued that human rights remain a central concern for many, and the magnitude of the Gaza conflict has prompted warnings of “genocide,” including from United Nations experts.
Arab American activist Adham Kassem described the vote as “energizing and a success story of a deeper conscience across communities—Arab, Jewish, Black, white, politically involved, and apolitical.”
‘Voters are not stupid’
Advocates argue that Biden’s unwavering support for Israel, along with his skepticism regarding the death toll in Gaza, has made a lasting impression on many voters.
At the outset of the conflict, Biden urged Congress to approve an additional $14 billion in aid to Israel, a request that lawmakers are still deliberating.
On Tuesday, while Michigan voters were casting “uncommitted” ballots, Biden convened with congressional leaders to advocate for the foreign aid bill containing the supplementary assistance for Israel. The legislation also includes provisions to halt funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), an aid organization.
Furthermore, his administration vetoed a ceasefire resolution at the UN Security Council for the third consecutive time last week.
Arraf noted that a recent shift in tone from the Biden administration has felt insincere to many.
While Biden and his officials have called on Israel to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza and acknowledge the “unimaginable pain and loss” of Palestinians, Arraf cautioned that this rhetoric could be perceived as “doublespeak” given the administration’s continued support for the Gaza war.
“Voters are not stupid, and therefore, this kind of rhetoric is further insulting,” she emphasized to Al Jazeera.
Kassem echoed this sentiment, stating, “Every one of these uncommitted votes represents someone who took time out of their day to vote against what we’ve all witnessed—a callous disregard for life by an administration that hopes time will absolve them. It won’t, and these voters won’t forget.”
