More than 8% of Wisconsin Democrats voted “uninstructed” in the state’s primary on Tuesday, signaling a message to President Joe Biden that he may be losing support in a state where he narrowly defeated former President Donald Trump in 2020.
The “uninstructed” votes totaled more than 47,000, surpassing the initial goal set by Listen To Wisconsin, a grassroots campaign that aimed to send a message with their vote demanding a change in policy regarding the conflict in Gaza.
As of Wednesday afternoon, over 95% of primary votes had been counted. Biden won Wisconsin in 2020 by just over 20,000 votes.
Kyle Johnson, the political director for the state’s uninstructed campaign, stated that the turnout was due in part to the campaign’s outreach efforts, which included over half a million calls and 2 million texts over three weeks.
Johnson also noted that the message resonated widely with voters, stating, “This is a sign.
This is a mandate for Biden to take action. I don’t know how [the White House] can continue to overlook this broad band of folks who’ve come together to say [the war] has to stop.”
Similar protest votes have occurred across the country, particularly in Michigan and Minnesota, exceeding expectations.
In Michigan, over 13% of the state’s Democratic voters voted “uncommitted,” while in Minnesota, a surprising 20% of Democratic voters cast their ballots for “uncommitted” ― more than twice the number who voted for Rep. Dean Phillips (D), challenging Biden for the 2024 presidential nomination, in his home state.
At least 26 delegates from the “uncommitted” movement will be at the Democratic convention in August, including delegates from Michigan, Minnesota, Hawaii, and Rhode Island.
Wisconsin’s “uninstructed” voters, however, did not meet the 15% minimum threshold to qualify to send delegates.
Dissent among Democratic voters has been growing due to frustration with the president’s strong support for Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza, where over 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in the past six months.
Israel has faced criticism for targeting aid workers, restricting aid, and bombing hospitals in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, which resulted in roughly 1,200 deaths and the taking of about 250 hostages.
Organizers of the uncommitted campaigns have warned that Biden risks losing the presidential election in November if he does not change course in Gaza, including by calling for a cease-fire and reinstating aid to the Palestinian relief agency.
A majority of U.S. voters, according to a poll conducted in December, support a permanent cease-fire and de-escalation of violence in Gaza.
This sentiment is even stronger among likely Democratic voters, with 76% calling for a cease-fire.
Another poll conducted in February found that a majority of Muslim and Jewish Democrats also favor a permanent cease-fire in Gaza.
“Dropping bombs on innocent lives is not the way to move forward, regardless of what political party you’re affiliated with,” Johnson remarked.
“If we come together, continue to make waves, organize, and escalate our tactics as we’ve been doing, and grow the movement, it’s hard for politicians to overlook it."