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Some Thoughts About Tonight’s Michigan Primary

 Member Newsletter
February 27, 2024 1:24 p.m.
LANSING, MI - AUGUST 02: A person arrives at a polling location to vote in the Michigan Primary Election on August 2, 2022 in Lansing, Michigan. This Midterm election, voters in Michigan will cast their ballots for t... LANSING, MI - AUGUST 02: A person arrives at a polling location to vote in the Michigan Primary Election on August 2, 2022 in Lansing, Michigan. This Midterm election, voters in Michigan will cast their ballots for the first time in districts that were newly drawn by a new nonpartisan redistricting committee. Michigan voters will also select their candidates for Governor for the upcoming November Midterm General Election, either the current democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer or one of 5 republican gubernatorial candidates. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) MORE LESS

Here are a few thoughts on the Michigan primary tonight, in which both parties’ returns will be closely watched but especially the Democrats’. It will be the first clear electoral test of the degree of dissatisfaction with President Biden over the Israel/Hamas war, especially in the Arab-American and Muslim-American communities.

One thing to keep in mind is that there are a couple movements trying to participate in the backlash against the President. There’s an “Abandon Biden” group which wants to do what it says, which is get as many people as possible to refuse to vote for President Biden in the November election. The consequences of that decision be damned.

The main focus tonight will be on those pushing for an “uncommitted” vote. The key thing to know is that this group very specifically does not have the same professed goal. “Uncommitted” in this case is best understood as providing a safe harbor of sorts for Democrats who want to signal outrage or opposition without refusing Biden support in the November election.

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