More than 100,000 Democrats voted “uncommitted” in Michigan’s primary, and leaders of the movement to reject the incumbent altogether are trying to extend their efforts to other states.
Instead of asking voters to stay home on Tuesday or cast their ballot for a third-party candidate, the group Listen to Michigan urged Democrats to vote “uncommitted.” Their message rejecting the president’s handling of the war registered at just more than 13%, showing a soft weakening of support for Biden heading into Super Tuesday and the general election.
“We are going to be talking to other states that are looking for a unifying vehicle to send the same message to Joe Biden,” Layla Elabed, campaign manager for Listen to Michigan, said during a Wednesday press call, according to the Hill. Elabed is the sister of Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the only Palestinian-American member of Congress. “This issue of Gaza is not just a Michigan issue, it is an issue across the United States. So our plan is to work with other coalitions like Listen to Michigan.”
The group Listen to Michigan pressed Democratic voters to protest Biden’s response to the Israel-Hamas war as he has rejected demands for an immediate ceasefire but recently suggested there could be a deal as soon as next week.
“We’re looking to you, President Biden,” Abbas Alawieh, spokesman for the Listen to Michigan campaign, said during the press call. “Michigan has made its move. We’ve participated. Over 100,000 of us want to know what you will do to engage us.”
Voters in several other states have the opportunity to cast their ballot for an uncommitted option, including Super Tuesday states — Colorado, Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, and Iowa.
With less than a week until the presidential primary elections on Super Tuesday, a movement backed by Colorado’s Arab-American community and progressive groups is pushing voters to vote for a “noncommitted delegate.” Vote Noncommitted Colorado’s campaign website says they represent “the increasing number of Arab voters, Muslim voters, young voters, and voters of color who no longer feel that the Biden Administration is representative of the values we hold dear.”
“Colorado has the opportunity on March 5th to send a message to Genocide Joe that we will not remain silent while he aids & abets Israel’s genocide of the Paletinian people & demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire, halt military aid to Israel, & support an end to the occupation!” the Colorado Palestine Coalition wrote on X.
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Our Revolution, a progressive nonprofit political organization originally founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), was part of the effort in Michigan.
“Our movement for peace doesn’t begin or end in Michigan because, after Michigan, we’re gonna keep the pressure on. Next Tuesday, we have another strategic opportunity to raise up our voices and tell the White House that we demand peace now,” Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution, said during a livestream Tuesday, encouraging Democrats to vote for Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) for California Senate.
