Prominent Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips, hailing from Minnesota, is poised to embark on a daring venture by launching a primary campaign against President Joe Biden. This audacious move is set to take its first official step as Phillips intends to file the necessary paperwork to secure a spot on the New Hampshire ballot, as confirmed by the state’s secretary of state’s office.
Notably, Phillips, a relatively unheralded figure on the national political scene, cites President Biden’s age as a pivotal factor motivating his primary challenge. At 80 years old, Biden’s age stands in stark contrast to Phillips, who is a youthful 54, reinforcing his vision that a new generation of leaders must emerge.
While his intentions remain unofficial, hints of his impending campaign have been visible in recent days. Campaign vehicles, including a bus and a van, have been spotted en route to New Hampshire. These vehicles feature the campaign website dean24.com, although it has yet to be publicly unveiled.
Dean Phillips, who previously served in Congress representing the western suburbs of Minneapolis since 2019, is renowned for his catchphrase, “everyone’s invited,” and touts himself as an “eternal optimist” and a “bipartisan believer.”
Intriguingly, policy-wise, there is minimal daylight between Phillips and President Biden, as Phillips has supported Biden’s legislative agenda with unwavering consistency, earning a recognition from the White House for his alignment.
However, Phillips’s decision to challenge an incumbent president has been met with considerable bewilderment and criticism, both from his peers in Congress and his constituents. Adding to the complexity of his political landscape, Phillips has also drawn a primary challenger in his home district.
Concurrently, the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor party has affirmed its commitment to back President Biden in both the primary and general elections of 2024, presenting a significant obstacle to Phillips’s aspirations. President Biden himself is set to visit Minnesota in the coming week, further underscoring the challenges that Phillips faces in his audacious primary bid.
