Biden wins the Michigan Democratic primary amid Israel-Hamas war pushback, NBC News projects

President Joe Biden secured a comfortable victory in Michigan’s Democratic primary on Tuesday, as projected by NBC News. The primary saw a grassroots effort to cast protest votes over Biden’s handling of the conflict in Gaza, but the outcome was never in doubt with Biden defeating his rival, Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn.

A key focus of the primary was the percentage of “uncommitted” votes, which stood at 14% with 33% of expected votes counted. This movement was driven by individuals displeased with Biden’s approach towards the Israeli military, including Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who is Palestinian American.

Despite the efforts to vote “uncommitted,” Biden’s lead remained strong, with attention now shifting towards the general election and a potential rematch with former President Donald Trump, who won the Michigan GOP primary.

Surrogates, including Vice President Kamala Harris, campaigned in Michigan to mobilize support for Biden among key voter groups. Harris emphasized the importance of elections and highlighted issues like abortion rights that could sway voters in the fall.

The primary in Michigan served as a referendum on Biden’s stance on the conflict in Gaza, with some voters expressing concerns and calling for a cease-fire. The “vote uncommitted” campaign aimed to pressure Biden to change course and influence his approach towards Israel.

While the primary results are in, there is still work to be done to reunify a party divided over the Gaza conflict. Democrats like Rep. Ro Khanna stressed the need for a course correction and healing period to address the anger and division within the party.

Despite the challenges, many Democrats remain committed to supporting Biden in the upcoming election, driven by their distaste for Trump and his policies. Voter anger towards Trump was a significant factor in Biden’s victory in 2020 and continues to influence support for the Democratic candidate.

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