Support for 'uncommitted' extended beyond Michigan's Arab American and Muslim communities

Ahead of Michigan's presidential primary, cease-fire activists launched a campaign urging voters to choose "uncommitted" over President Joe Biden in the Democratic contest. Support for "uncommitted" extended beyond the state's Arab American and Muslim communities to other key Democratic constituencies, according to a precinct-level analysis of the election results.

The last-minute Listen to Michigan campaign kicked off three weeks before the election. Our Revolution — a progressive political group — later joined the call to ask voters in Michigan to vote "uncommitted" to pressure Biden to demand a permanent cease-fire.

Organizers cast their efforts as a way to protest Biden's support for Israel in its military campaign in Gaza. More than 30,000 Palestinians have died since Oct. 7, when a Hamas attack in Israel killed 1,200.

Across the state, about 13% of voters in the Democratic primary — more than 100,000 — chose "uncommitted." The "uncommitted" vote won two delegates for the Democratic National Convention; one in the 6th congressional district that includes university communities in Washtenaw County and another in the 12th congressional district represented by U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, the lone Palestinian-American in Congress who has served as a vocal critic of Israel and backed the Listen to Michigan campaign led by her sister.

About 8% of Wayne County residents, 139,751 people, identified as Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) as of the 2020 census — the highest share of any county in the U.S. In Wayne County cities home to large Arab American and Muslim populations — Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck — Biden lost to the "uncommitted" vote. In the Democratic primary, "uncommitted" received 57% of the vote in Dearborn, 48% in Dearborn Heights and 61% in Hamtramck, according to unofficial results.

'Uncommitted' Democratic votes by southeast Michigan community

In addition to Wayne County, Washtenaw County also saw the highest vote share for "uncommitted" of all counties in Michigan. In both counties, "uncommitted" received 17% of the total Democratic primary vote. The percentage of residents in Washtenaw County who identified as MENA was about 3%, or 10,356 people, according to 2020 Census data.

In Washtenaw County, support for "uncommitted" was high near Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In Ypsilanti, "uncommitted" received 30% of the vote. In Ann Arbor, it received 19% of the vote. In two precincts — one on each university's campus — "uncommitted" defeated Biden.

Alec Hughes, co-chair of College Dems at the University of Michigan said the "uncommitted" showing in the primary last Tuesday is worrisome for Biden who faces a likely rematch against former President Donald Trump. But Hughes said he's not worried young voters will derail Biden's chances in Michigan. "I'm very optimistic," he said. As November nears, he imagines the reality of a second Trump term will set in among voters.

'Uncommitted' Democratic votes by precinct: Washtenaw County

In addition to Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck, other Wayne County municipalities saw higher support for "uncommitted" than the statewide vote share. In Grosse Pointe Park — a predominantly white and affluent city — 18% of voters in the Democratic primary chose "uncommitted." Eight years ago in 2016, Bernie Sanders carried the city in the primary.

Adjacent to Dearborn's southern boundary in Melvindale, nearly 1 in 3 voters who cast a ballot in the Democratic primary voted "uncommitted", where the census estimates about 30% of residents identified as Middle Eastern or North African descent in 2020.

In Canton Township, 1 in 4 voters in the Democratic primary chose "uncommitted." And the "uncommitted" vote beat Biden in two precincts of the township.

In Wayne County's largest city — Detroit — it was not possible to decipher in which precincts Biden may have lost to the "uncommitted" vote because the city did not report election results for absentee and early voting ballots at the precinct level.

In Oakland County, Ferndale and Hazel Park voters chose Democratic "uncommitted" at a rate of 27% and 25%, respectively. And in Macomb County, the greatest support came from its two largest cities: Warren and Sterling Heights where roughly 17% of the vote went to "uncommitted" in the Democratic primary.

In the heart of Branch County, uncommitted support came from 20% of Coldwater voters who cast a ballot in the Democratic primary. About 12% of Coldwater residents reported MENA descent in 2020.

Organizers behind the "uncommitted" vote have celebrated the diversity of the coalition that backed their effort as a sign Biden needs to change course on his foreign policy and call for a permanent cease-fire. Since the "uncommitted" push in Michigan, other states have launched similar efforts calling for a protest vote.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include the correct congressional district number for U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit.

Contact Kristi Tanner at ktanner@freepress.com. Follow her on X @midatalove

Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan primary: Where 'uncommitted' vote was concentrated