Biden and Trump win Michigan primaries amid voter shift concerns

The Associated Press declared the winners shortly after polls closed and the initial results came in. Both Biden and Trump were widely expected to win in Michigan, a state known for its significant automotive industry.

With around 20 percent of the votes counted, President Biden secured approximately 80 percent of the vote. His challengers, Congressman Dean Phillips from Minnesota and esoteric self-help book author Marianne Williamson, managed to collect nearly 3 percent each. However, nearly 15 percent of voters abstained from selecting any candidate. This was a direct consequence of a campaign by Muslim and Arab community activists in Michigan—the largest community of these diasporas in the U.S.—aimed at dissuading voters from supporting Biden due to his policies on the Gaza Strip conflict.

"Our movement emerged victorious today, far exceeding our expectations. Tens of thousands of Democrats in Michigan abstained from the reelection due to the Gaza war," stated Layla Elabed, leader of the Listen to Michigan campaign.

Michigan's role as a pivotal state means the shift of Muslim voters away from Biden could significantly affect the presidential election outcomes. In 2020, Biden won Michigan over Trump by 150,000 votes. Political analysts highlight this potential shift as crucial.

In the Republican race, Trump claimed victory over his former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, marking his fifth consecutive win in the primaries. This streak edges him closer to securing the party's nomination for the November presidential elections. Despite her defeat, Haley, representing the moderate wing and positioning herself as an alternative to Trump, vowed to continue her campaign at least until Super Tuesday on March 5, when 16 states hold their votes.

In Michigan, after about 22 percent of the votes were counted, Trump led Haley with 66 percent of the vote to her 30 percent.