Rep. Ro Khanna, a Biden ally, to meet with Arab American leaders in Michigan before state's primary

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California, a surrogate for President Biden's reelection campaign, is meeting in his personal capacity with Arab American and Muslim leaders in Michigan this week to discuss U.S. policy toward Israel, amid a growing push by activists who are encouraging Democrats to cast protest votes in next week's primary.

Local organizers are pushing for Michigan voters to choose the "uncommitted" option in Tuesday's election as a way to object to the Biden administration's support for Israel in its war with Hamas in Gaza. Many Arab American activists in the state have also signaled they might not vote at all in the November general election, which could harm Mr. Biden's electoral chances in a critical battleground he won by a slim margin in 2020.

Khanna was an early supporter of a permanent mutual cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, where the total death toll stands at more than 29,000 since Hamas' attacks across Israel on Oct. 7, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.