‘Uncommitted’ founder Alawieh who pushed Democrats to vote against Biden over Gaza wins primary

Abbas Alawieh, a key figure behind the "Uncommitted" movement that challenged President Joe Biden's policies on Gaza, has won a Democratic primary for Michigan's state Senate. Alawieh defeated incumbent state representative Erin Byrnes in the race for the 2nd Senate District, a seat representing a heavily Arab-American area including Dearborn and parts of Detroit.

Alawieh secured 59% of the vote compared to Byrnes' 41%, with over 95% of ballots counted, according to the Associated Press. This victory positions him to likely win the solid-blue seat in November. His campaign gained national attention for its role in the 2024 Michigan presidential primary, where over 100,000 voters chose "uncommitted" to protest the administration's support for Israel amid the mounting casualties in Gaza. The movement even surpassed Biden in Dearborn, a city where Arab Americans constitute more than half the population.

The 32-year-old strategist, who was born in Lebanon and raised in Dearborn, acknowledged his win amid personal tragedy. His maternal grandfather, Hajj Kassem Bazzi, died on Tuesday night as election results were being finalized. Alawieh's team released a statement asking for prayers for his family and promising further remarks soon.

Alawieh's campaign received backing from notable figures such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. He previously served as a staffer for several Democratic members of Congress, including Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib and former Reps. Andy Levin and Cori Bush. The "Uncommitted" movement, co-founded by Alawieh and Layla Elabed, resonated with a broad base, including some Jewish voters, and expanded to other states, garnering over 650,000 votes nationwide.

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Please keep Abbas’s family in your prayers as they take needed time together. Abbas will share his own thoughts on the race soon. For now, thank you to every community that made this win possible.