Almost as soon as former vice president Joe Biden was left as the only candidate still running in the Democratic primary, the celebration that typically follows a nomination victory was replaced by panic among Democrats and the liberal press: Would the party unify? Would Bernie Sanders supporters get behind Biden? Three weeks later, New York Democrats have effectively canceled the state’s Democratic primary, angering Sanders supporters and deepening the party rift Biden backers fear may hurt his chances in November.

When Sanders officially suspended his campaign on April 8, he made clear he would stay on the ballot in upcoming primary contests to accrue delegates and wield some influence over the party platform and rules come convention time. But before the month was even over, New York lawmakers slipped a provision into the state’s budget bill paving the way for the New York State Board of Elections’ unanimous vote last Monday to remove Sanders from the ballot. Co-chair Douglas Kellner called the primary “a beauty contest” that is “unnecessary and frivolous,” and cited health concerns around voting during a pandemic.

The decision elicited outrage from top Sanders advisers like Nina Turner, who charged it had a “chilling effect on democracy,” and Jeff Weaver, who called it a “blow to American democracy.” But it’s also infuriated rank-and-file Sanders backers, who told Jacobin they feel disrespected, silenced, and believe the decision will make the mission of defeating Trump in November more difficult.