Minnesota Democrat Rep. Phillips officially launches presidential primary challenge against Biden

Phillips is expected to begin his campaign with an event Friday in early balloting state New Hampshire

Published: October 27, 2023 8:07am

Updated: October 28, 2023 1:43pm

Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips late Thursday officially entered the 2024 Democrat presidential primary race, challenging incumbent President Joe Biden.

Phillips filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission and his campaign website went live shortly after he announced, according to Fox News.

“I think President Biden has done a spectacular job for our country, but it’s not about the past," Phillips said during a CBS interview. "This is an election about the future. I will not sit still, I will not be quiet in the face of numbers that are so clearly saying that we’re going to be facing an emergency next November."

Phillips is a third-term congressman who has argued that Biden would be a weak candidate to run in 2024.

Phillips is expected to formally begin his campaign Friday with an event in Concord, New Hampshire.

The 54-year-old prior to joining Congress was heir to his stepfather's Phillips Distilling Company empire and once served as that company's president, and he ran the gelato maker Talenti.