Tlaib says she was ‘proud’ to vote ‘uncommitted’ in Michigan primary

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) said she was “proud” to vote “uncommitted” in the Michigan primary Tuesday, casting a protest vote against President Biden amid frustration over the war in Gaza. 

“I was proud today to walk in and pull a Democratic ballot and vote uncommitted. We must protect our democracy. We must make sure that our government is about us, about the people,” Tlaib said in a video shared by the Listen to Michigan campaign, calling for the protest vote. 

“When 74 percent of Democrats in Michigan support a cease-fire, yet President Biden is not hearing us, this is the way we can use our democracy to say ‘listen.’ Listen to Michigan.” 

Listen to Michigan is urging voters in the Great Lakes State to vote for an “uncommitted” option on the presidential primary ballot to send Biden a message of upset over the administration’s actions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war.  

The campaign wants to “demonstrate our political power and discontent” through the primary protest votes, in order to make Biden “feel more at risk of losing Michigan in the general election, prompting a potential reassessment of his financing and backing of Israel’s war in Gaza,” according to its site. 

Biden is facing growing anger from progressives over the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and the campaign has seen warning signs in its reception from Michigan’s significant Arab American communities ahead of Tuesday’s primary.

Polling shows Biden with a massive lead over his longshot challenger in the state’s Democratic race, and he’s still expected to win Tuesday even with the “uncommitted” push — but enough protest votes could signal problems for him as the general election draws nearer.

Polling averages from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill show former President Trump with a 2.5-point lead in a hypothetical general election head-to-head against Biden in Michigan.