Earlier this year, 100,000 voters in Michigan cast ‘uncommitted’ votes in the Democratic primary, rather than selecting candidate Biden.
A pro-Palestine group that advocated for thousands of “uncommitted” votes against President Biden in Michigan’s primary election has announced that it will not endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, despite urging voters to reject former President Donald Trump.
The group also expressed opposition to a potential Trump presidency, citing concerns about increased violence in Gaza and crackdowns on anti-war activism. The Uncommitted National Movement is urging its followers not to vote for third-party candidates, as they believe this could lead to a Trump victory.
The pro-Palestine group is disappointed that Harris did not meet their self-imposed deadline of September 15 to engage with Palestinian American families affected by the Israel–Hamas conflict or discuss plans to halt arms shipments to Israel. They had also pushed for a Palestinian speaker at the Democratic National Convention in August, but this request was not fulfilled.
“We have been urging Vice President Harris for months to reconsider her Gaza policy so that we can mobilize voters in key states to save lives and protect our democracy. The DNC and the Vice President’s campaign missed an opportunity to unite our party before the November election by rejecting the simple request for a Palestinian American speaker,” the group stated.
Michigan is a crucial battleground state in the race for the Electoral College. Once part of the “blue wall” of northern states that traditionally supported Democrats, Trump won Michigan in 2016 by a narrow margin. However, Biden reclaimed the state in 2020 with a more significant lead.
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However, Democratic support in Michigan showed signs of strain in February when over 100,000 voters opted for “uncommitted” rather than supporting Biden in the presidential primary, citing concerns about his policies towards Israel. Michigan has a significant Arab American population, and the “uncommitted” movement spread to other states during the 2024 primary season.
While Harris has expressed empathy for Palestinians in Gaza, she has maintained her support for Biden’s foreign policies, including backing Israel’s right to self-defense and advocating for a hostage and cease-fire agreement.
“We are working to pressure all parties involved to reach a resolution … and I believe Palestinians deserve dignity, self-determination, and security as we work towards a two-state solution,” Harris stated during an interview with the National Association of Black Journalists in Philadelphia on September 17.
