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United Kingdom Michigan Primary Takeaways: 'Uncommitted' Sends Biden a Message
- liveUpdatesFeb. 28, 2024, 1:21 p.m. ET
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Michigan Primary Takeaways: ‘Uncommitted’ Makes Itself Heard
President Biden endured a protest vote, Donald Trump fended off Nikki Haley again, and both may face challenges with their party coalitions as they start to look toward November.
A protest vote against President Biden was organized by local Arab American leaders in Michigan.Credit...Emily Elconin for The New York Times
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Reid J. Epstein and
- Feb. 28, 2024Updated 10:18 a.m. ET
Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Donald J. Trump won Michigan’s primary elections on Tuesday as the president and his predecessor hurtle toward a rematch in November.
But the results showed some of the fragility of the political coalitions they have constructed in a critical state for the fall. Losing any slice of support is perilous for both Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump. Mr. Biden won Michigan in 2020 by about 150,000 votes, and Mr. Trump carried it in 2016 by about 11,000 votes.
The results of the primaries on Tuesday carried extra weight because Michigan was the first state that is a top general-election battleground to hold its primary in 2024.
Here are four takeaways from the results:
‘Uncommitted’ succeeded in grabbing Biden’s attention.
When the movement to persuade Democrats to vote “uncommitted” began three weeks ago, its public goal was clear: Pile enough pressure on Mr. Biden that he would call for an unconditional cease-fire in Gaza.
Since then, top White House officials told Arab American leaders in Dearborn, Mich., that they had regrets over how the administration had responded to the crisis. Mr. Biden called Israel’s military action “over the top.” And on the eve of the primary, he said he hoped a cease-fire agreement would be in place within a week. (The view from Israel and Gaza suggested Mr. Biden was being a bit optimistic.)
The protest vote in presidential primaries
Percent of vote going to “uncommitted” or to minor candidates in party primaries where an incumbent president ran without major competition
Median: 7%
Mich.
2024
13% uncommmitted
5.8% minor candidates
Mich.
2020
Mich.
2012
2004
10
20
30
40%
0
Median: 7%
Mich.
2024
13% uncommmitted
5.8% minor candidates
Mich.
2020
Mich.
2012
2004
10
20
30
40%
0
Note: Michigan results for 2024 are as of 12:18 a.m. Eastern.
Sources: The Associated Press; Federal Election Commission
By Christine Zhang
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