Staff Reports
Pro-Palestinian activists in Michigan are making waves in the Democratic primary by casting their votes as “uncommitted,” in protest of President Joe Biden’s stance on the war between Israel and Hamas. These activists are hoping to send a strong message to Biden, but their efforts may not make as big of a splash as they hope.
The ballot for Democratic voters in Michigan offers four options, including Biden, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN), Marianne Williamson, and the “uncommitted” option. Activists are determined to show their discontent with Biden’s policies by rallying for at least 10,000 votes for the “uncommitted” option, which they hope will make up 15% of the primary vote.
The Biden campaign is not taking this protest lightly, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expressing concern about the possibility of a high number of “uncommitted” voters. Whitmer, a national co-chair for Biden’s campaign, is urging Democratic voters to throw their support behind Biden and not the “uncommitted” option. She argues that a vote for Biden is crucial for the Arab, Muslim, Palestinian, and Jewish communities, as it will help prevent a second term for former President Donald Trump.
Despite the activists’ efforts, history indicates that the impact of the “uncommitted” votes may not be as significant as they hope. In the 2012 primary, President Barack Obama overwhelmingly won in Michigan, but the “uncommitted” option received over 20,000 votes, showing that dissatisfaction with the incumbent president is not a new phenomenon.
Moreover, in the 2020 Democratic primary, even with a one-on-one matchup between Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), “uncommitted” still garnered over 19,000 votes, making up 1.2% of the total. The trend continued in 2016 and 2012, with a significant number of voters opting for the “uncommitted” option.
This push for “uncommitted” votes is not unprecedented in Michigan’s Democratic primaries. In 2008, a whopping 40% of Democratic voters did not back a specific candidate, with over 238,000 votes going to the “uncommitted” option. This surge in “uncommitted” votes was a result of high-profile candidates complying with the Democratic National Committee’s wishes to keep Iowa and New Hampshire as the first deciding contests, causing upheaval in Michigan and Florida.
In conclusion, while the activists’ aim to garner 10,000 “uncommitted” votes in the Michigan Democratic primary is ambitious, the historical data suggests that their impact may not be as substantial as they hope. Nonetheless, their efforts will likely continue to draw attention and spark discussions within the Democratic party.
