The largest labor union in Washington state, the United Food and Commercial Workers, has endorsed voting "uncommitted" in the state's Democratic presidential primary, expressing concerns about President Joe Biden's political strength and his support for Israel's war in Gaza. The union, with over 50,000 members, believes that voting "uncommitted" will strengthen the Democratic party's nominee to defeat Trump in the general election. This move reflects some parts of the Democratic base not fully supporting Biden's re-election, as seen in Michigan's primary where 13% of voters chose "uncommitted" over Biden.
In the Michigan Democratic primary, a protest "uncommitted" vote secured two delegates, signaling dissatisfaction with President Biden's stance on Israel's conflict with Hamas. Despite winning the state, Biden's campaign downplays the significance of the "uncommitted" votes, while local Democrats view it as a warning. The vote totals raise concerns for Democrats in a state Biden won narrowly in 2020, particularly in areas with large Arab American populations. While Biden still won 115 delegates, the "uncommitted" delegates will be free to vote for whomever they choose at the party’s national convention. The results also showed some signs of optimism for Biden, as turnout was high and weaknesses in the coalition backing former President Trump were evident.
Young Michigan voters, led by state representative Abraham Aiyash and other young elected leaders, are spearheading the "Vote Uncommitted" movement, demanding President Biden to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and halt aid to Israel. The Listen to Michigan campaign, initially created by millennial and Gen Z organizers, aims to secure more than 10,000 uncommitted votes in the primary. Despite Biden's efforts to earn every vote in Michigan, some voters, including Muslim and Arab Americans, progressives, and young voters, are considering voting uncommitted due to dissatisfaction with his handling of the Gaza conflict.
