Michigan Democratic delegates vote to give Harris their support for president

Vice President Kamala Harris at John R. Lewis High School on June 2, 2023 in Springfield, Virginia. | Alex Wong/Getty Images

Democratic delegates across the country have acted quickly to show strong support for Vice President Kamala Harris as she seeks the party’s nomination for president after President Joe Biden bowed out of the race Sunday. 

On Tuesday evening, Michigan Democratic delegates joined several other states in voting as a delegation to give Harris their overwhelming support.

Well over 100 of Michigan’s 138 Democratic delegates were on the call Tuesday night to affirm the state’s party’s intention of backing Harris, David Woodward, a delegate and chair of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners told the Michigan Advance on Wednesday. The vast majority of delegates verbalized their support of Harris, but during the short meeting the party gave room for the handful of delegates who were apprehensive of Harris to speak.

“People are moving this because not only do they believe it’s the right move to keep America on the right track and build on the success of the last few years, but more importantly, what it represents and in frankly the level of activism of key constituencies, key voting blocs that are necessary to win Michigan and win battleground states around the country are all excited. So game on,” Woodward said.

One who did not back Harris, Abbas Alawieh, who was an “uncommitted” delegate, shared on social media Tuesday night that one person told him, “Shut up, asshole.” He was explaining his stance representing the more than 100,000 residents who voted uncommitted in the primary election in February. The uncommitted movement stems from voters who oppose Biden’s support for Israel in its war with Hamas.

“As a Dem & former Dem staffer, I was appalled & hurt to receive anti-Palestinian vitriol from a colleague & not have any Dem electeds on the call unmute to push back. As an Uncommitted Delegate, I’m urging Dem leaders not to ignore over 730k+ Uncommitted voters nationally,” Alawieh wrote on social media on Tuesday. “I hope @KamalaHarris will accept Uncommitted delegates’ request to meet. We deserve to be heard and not dismissed.” 

Delegates who voiced their concerns surrounding Harris Tuesday are valuable to the party, Woodward said, adding that the party as a whole is ready to do what needs to be done to win the election in November.

“I think the uncommitted delegates hold some purpose and why they’re uncommitted delegates and [they] want to be afforded the opportunity to have appropriate conversations. That being said, no one doubts that our Democratic delegates will be 100% behind our Democratic nominee come November,” Woodward said.

Harris had already secured enough endorsements from states’ Democratic delegates to solidify her as the party’s presidential nominee ahead of the official vote at the Democratic National Convention in August, according to The Associated Press’ delegate tracker. But with the majority of Michigan’s 138 delegates backing Harris, it further solidifies Democrats’ speedy switch from Biden to the vice president.

Michigan Democrats have made a smooth transition in showing their strong support for Harris, DNC delegate Sharon Baseman told the Michigan Advance. She reiterated that the state’s delegates are nearly all on board for Harris and volunteers, fundraising and yard signs are out in force.

After Biden ended his campaign, after scores of high-ranking leaders in his own party asked him to step aside, Harris is breaking records in fundraising. Within 48-hours of her campaign being launched, Harris brought in over $100 million in donations.

In the Rust Belt, Harris’ efforts as vice president, California attorney general and U.S. Senator for the Golden State are appreciated, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said in a statement Tuesday. The Michigan Democratic delegation values hard work and people like Harris that prioritize fighting for reproductive freedoms, workers’ rights, and strengthening the middle class.

“Since the day she took office, Vice President Harris has clearly shown her dedication to Michiganders, their values, and their families. As a prosecutor and senator, she worked to keep her community safe from those who sought to harm it — now, as our nominee, she is doing the exact same thing as she fights to beat Donald Trump and his MAGA agenda once again,” Barnes said. “As delegates across the country rally behind Harris, we are excited to continue to unite this party so we can come together in November and elect Democrats up and down the ballot.”

The post Michigan Democratic delegates vote to give Harris their support for president appeared first on Michigan Advance.