Some liberal stalwarts want to use Tuesday’s Georgia presidential primary to send President Joe Biden a message about his policies toward Israel in the war in Gaza.
Georgia doesn’t have an “uncommitted” option on its Democratic primary ballot like Michigan, where roughly one-in-eight Democrats used the method to lodge a protest vote over Biden’s foreign policy. He has been working to negotiate a cease-fire and has been critical of Israel’s handling of the conflict while still supporting the longtime ally.
But the law does allow Georgians to cast blank ballots. That’s what happened during the 2022 U.S. Senate runoff, when some Republicans made their disgust with GOP nominee Herschel Walker known by showing up to the voting booth but not casting a vote for either Walker or Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock.
Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC
Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC
State Rep. Ruwa Romman, Georgia’s first Palestinian-American legislator, said the idea is spreading like “wildfire” in progressive circles ahead of next week’s primary.
“Phone banking organizers that have been calling members of Congress are now shifting to this,” the Duluth Democrat said. “It’s completely grassroots. I’ve never seen anything like it and hope that no matter the outcome people listen.”
Flyers are circulating among liberal and Muslim activists in Georgia that read: “Tell Biden, ceasefire now! Leave it blank on March 12.” Some encourage non-voters to post a #leaveitblank hashtag.
Biden supporters aren’t worried. The president plans a Saturday rally in metro Atlanta, and he’s certain to demolish the other two Democrats on the state’s ballot: Minnesota U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips and self-help author Marianne Williamson, who quit the race but relaunched her campaign last week.
“Elections are about choices and people have a right to do what they want to do on their primary ballot, and we know there’s a lot of time between now and November,” U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, the chair of the state Democratic Party, said in an interview.
“Georgia Democrats have been counted out before, and we’ll continue to show up in force to make sure we’re supporting the polices that deliver for all Georgians.”
Any signs of fissure within the party’s coalition is welcome news to the Republican front-runner, former President Donald Trump, and his allies, since Biden carried the state by fewer than 12,000 votes in 2020.
A version of this article originally appeared in Politically Georgia A.M. on March 4.
