Michigan Primaries: Biden secures victory despite Gaza protest vote, Trump strengthens lead

Many in Michigan’s Arab American community, along with progressive Democrats, expressed frustration over Biden’s support for Israel’s actions in Gaza.

President Joe Biden secured a decisive victory in the Democratic presidential primary in Michigan on Tuesday, as a notable protest vote emerged among Democrats expressing discontent over Biden’s stance on Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Meanwhile, in the Republican primary, former President Donald Trump emerged triumphant with a significant lead, solidifying his position as the frontrunner for the party’s White House nomination. Nikki Haley, his closest rival, trailed far behind.

Although both Biden and Trump were expected to win their respective primaries comfortably, observers closely monitored the vote counts for any indications of shifting support.

Michigan, with its substantial Arab American population, witnessed a call for Democratic voters to mark their primary ballots as “uncommitted” in protest of Biden’s Gaza policy. The protest exceeded expectations, with early returns indicating nearly 40,000 “uncommitted” votes, far surpassing the anticipated target of 10,000.

Many in Michigan’s Arab American community, along with progressive Democrats, expressed frustration over Biden’s support for Israel’s actions in Gaza, where significant casualties among Palestinians have occurred.

The Listen to Michigan campaign, which advocated for the “uncommitted” vote, declared victory, highlighting the tens of thousands of Democrats in Michigan who, having previously supported Biden, expressed their reservations about his reelection due to the Gaza conflict.

Organizers pledged to carry their antiwar agenda to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago later in the year.

Bernie Porn, a Michigan pollster, said that the significance of the Middle East issue for Biden in the upcoming November election remained uncertain.

In his post-election statement, Biden expressed gratitude to Michigan voters but made no reference to Gaza or the “uncommitted” vote. Meanwhile, he criticized Trump’s approach, warning against regressing into past divisions.

Early returns showed both Biden and Trump leading comfortably. With a significant portion of votes counted, Biden garnered 80% support among Democrats, while “uncommitted” received 14%. Trump secured 67% support among Republicans, with Haley trailing at 28%.

The option to vote “uncommitted” in Michigan primaries serves as a barometer of the party base’s support for named candidates. The exact number of protest votes against Biden’s Gaza policy remained unclear.

Michigan, a pivotal battleground state, is expected to play a crucial role in the November presidential election, likely featuring a rematch between Biden and Trump.