U.S. Representative Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) has recently declared that he will not be seeking re-election, a month after revealing his plans to challenge Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination. He made this announcement in a social media post on Friday, stating, “It’s time to pass the torch, it’s time for change, and our best days are yet to come!”
Phillips, who is continuing his presidential campaign, is 54 years old and initiated his career in Congress in 2018. He is currently serving his third term, which will conclude in January 2025. Despite expressing admiration for Biden, he believes the 80-year-old is too old for a second term as President.
A recent photo depicts Phillips holding a rally outside the New Hampshire Statehouse, where he handed over his declaration of candidacy for president.
He told Politico that Biden’s age excludes him as a viable candidate and claimed polls indicated Donald Trump was ahead of Biden. Despite being a long-shot candidate, Phillips remains optimistic about his presidential nomination.
The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party praised Phillips for his public service and expressed support for President Biden in response to his announcement. However, Phillips faced criticism after making controversial remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris, for which he later released an apology.
