What’s Behind the Protest Vote Against Biden in Michigan’s Tuesday Primary?

Many Arab- and Muslim-Americans, along with young and black voters, are planning to vote “uncommitted” or “anything but Biden” in Michigan’s Tuesday primary to protest President Joe Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza. 

The Details: With slogans like “Genocide Joe Has Got to Go,” the Abandon Biden movement cites the president’s early support for Israel’s operations in Gaza and failure to call for a permanent ceasefire, as well as continued U.S. funding for Israel. As the reported Gaza death toll rises daily, these issues reportedly contributed to what The New Arab (Not Rated) called “a sense of betrayal.”

For Context: Biden won Michigan in 2020 by just 154,000 votes, making Arab-American and young voters key to securing the state’s 15 electoral college votes in 2024. The Biden administration recently vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an unconditional ceasefire, arguing it would harm separate ceasefire and hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which are happening via U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian mediators. Biden himself said Monday, “My hope is by next Monday we'll have a ceasefire.” 

How the Media Covered It: Coverage was common across the spectrum, but more so in left-rated outlets. Coverage from the left appeared more likely to focus specifically on Arab- and Muslim-Americans. Some coverage from the right focused on “Squad” member Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s (D-MI) remarks on the issue.