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On Friday, Representative Dean Phillips from Minnesota declared that he won't be seeking reelection to Congress next year. Instead, he is embarking on a challenging endeavor—an unlikely bid for the Democratic nomination against President Joe Biden in 2024.
“[After] three terms it is time to pass the torch,” Phillips said in a statement, echoing the argument for generational change he has called for in his primary bid against Biden.
Phillips formally launched his campaign for the Democratic presidential nod last month in New Hampshire.
He has faced significant intraparty opposition to his candidacy as Democrats seek to unify around the president, fend off spoiler independent candidates and lay out the administration’s accomplishments to voters.
Contrary to his previous stance, Phillips has now begun criticizing Biden's policies and expressed disapproval of the administration's handling of the Hamas hostages situation.
"[It's] unacceptable that American citizens remain held by Hamas and have not been liberated through diplomatic means or special forces extraction," he stated on social media this Wednesday.
As an heir to a Minnesota distilling business and the former chairman of Talenti Gelato, Phillips has pledged to invest whatever amount necessary from his multimillion-dollar fortune to secure victory. The Minnesota Democrat is also supported by a recently formed super PAC named "Pass the Torch," which is broadcasting advertisements in New Hampshire and Washington, DC. highlighting polls showing Biden trailing Trump in key swing states
The White House responded to Phillips' choice not to seek reelection by highlighting his congressional record.
“Congressman Phillips has voted for nearly 100% of President Biden’s policies, and the President will miss his support for the Biden-Harris legislative agenda,” spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement Friday.
Phillips was first elected to Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District, which covers the wealthy suburbs around Minneapolis, in 2018. Notably, he unseated a Republican incumbent by a substantial margin of 11 points, marking a historic shift in a district that had not chosen a Democrat for House representation in over fifty years. His resounding victories in the subsequent elections of 2020 and 2022 further solidified his political standing.
After making his announcement on Friday, Phillips revealed that he had engaged in discussions with two Democrats who had previously announced their intentions to run for his 3rd District seat – Minnesota state Senator Kelly Morrison and Democratic National Committee member Ron Harris.
“Had great conversations with both @Morrison4MN and @ronharrismn and can’t wait to pass the torch and get to work for whomever becomes our nominee,” the congressman wrote on social media. “The amazing #DeanTeam, which flipped a 60-year red district blue in ‘18, will be an army of democracy to ensure victory once again in ‘24.”
BNCN News contributed to this report.
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