Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips Congressional Reelection: Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips declared on Friday that he won’t seek reelection to Congress next year. Instead, he’s pursuing a challenging bid for the Democratic nomination in the 2024 presidential race against President Joe Biden.
“After three terms, it is time to pass the torch,” Phillips stated, aligning with his call for generational change, a central theme in his primary challenge against Biden.
Formally launching his Democratic presidential campaign in New Hampshire last month, Phillips expressed concerns that Biden, despite being a “terrific” president, might lose a general election rematch against former President Donald Trump due to age and low approval ratings.
Phillips has encountered significant intraparty opposition as Democrats aim to unify around Biden, deter spoiler independent candidates, and highlight the administration’s achievements.
Rather than seeking reelection, Phillips has started criticizing Biden’s policies, particularly the administration’s handling of the Hamas hostages situation, stating it’s “unacceptable that American citizens remain held by Hamas.”
As an heir to a Minnesota distilling business and former chairman of Talenti Gelato, Phillips is determined to invest his multimillion-dollar fortune to secure victory. Backed by the new super PAC, Pass the Torch, ads in New Hampshire and Washington, DC, emphasize polls showing Biden trailing Trump in key swing states.
Reacting to Phillips’ decision, the White House pointed to his record in Congress, noting his consistent support for President Biden’s policies.
First elected to Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District in 2018, Phillips unseated a Republican incumbent by 11 points. Despite facing intraparty challenges, he won reelection in 2020 and 2022. Phillips has engaged with Democrats vying for his seat, expressing optimism about passing the torch and working for the eventual nominee with the support of his dedicated team.
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Our Reader’s Queries
When was Dean Phillips elected to Congress?
Elected in 2018, Phillips unseated the six-term Republican Erik Paulsen, flipping the historically Republican district and breaking a six-decade streak of Democratic losses. He has since secured reelection twice.
How many representatives to Congress does Minnesota have?
There are currently eight members in the delegation, with an equal split of four Democrats and four Republicans.
Who are the 8 representatives of Minnesota?
1st district: Brad Finstad (R) (since 2022)
2nd district: Angie Craig (D) (since 2019)
3rd district: Dean Phillips (D) (since 2019)
4th district: Betty McCollum (D) (since 2001)
5th district: Ilhan Omar (D) (since 2019)
6th district: Tom Emmer (R) (since 2015)
Where did Dean Phillips make his money?
Ascending from various small startups, he advanced to spearhead Phillips Distilling, his family’s business.