An effort to protest President Joe Biden's stance on the Israel-Hamas war received enough votes to send two "uncommitted" delegates to the Democratic National Convention this summer.
The state Democratic Party confirmed Friday that more than 15% of Democratic voters in the Seattle-area 7th Congressional District picked the "uncommitted" option in the March 12 presidential primary, securing the two delegates.
The remainder of the state's 92 pledged delegates will be committed to Biden, who won the statewide vote easily with 83% of the Democratic primary vote.
The uncommitted protest vote received nearly 10% of the primary vote statewide, but the figure was higher — 16.33% — in the 7th District.
Backers of the uncommitted protest vote aimed to make a point of pressuring the Biden administration to move more forcefully in securing a cease-fire in Israel's invasion of Gaza, which it launched after the surprise attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 that killed more than 1,200 people and took hundreds hostage.
The war of retaliation has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians and left northern Gaza on the brink of famine.
Rami Al-Kabra, the Palestinian American Bothell deputy mayor who helped lead the uncommitted campaign here, called the primary results encouraging.
"We hope that the president and the party will heed our call for a permanent and immediate cease-fire," he said in an interview Friday.
While Biden's nomination for a second term has never been in serious doubt, critics have argued his failure to negotiate a halt to the war will hurt him with key Democratic voters in November.
Biden has in recent weeks stepped up pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. On Thursday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Israel against a major ground assault on the southern Gaza town of Rafah, where more than a million people are located. But Netanyahu has waved off such warnings, according to The Associated Press.
The uncommitted Washington delegates are free to join the small number of uncommitted delegates from other states in objecting to Biden's nomination for a second term at the Democratic National Convention, set for August in Chicago.
Among Republican voters, former President Donald Trump easily won the presidential primary, securing 76% of the GOP vote against a field of four rivals on the ballot who had already ended their campaigns. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley received about 19% of the Republican vote.
Turnout in the primary was low, reaching about 35%, according to Secretary of State Steve Hobbs' office.
The people who will serve as delegates will be elected at the state Democratic Party convention in June.
"We encourage every Democrat in Washington to consider running for delegate!" said state party spokesperson Stephen Reed in a news release Friday afternoon. Those interested can find more information at the state party website: wa-democrats.org.
