Congressman Dean Phillips of Minnesota may launch a challenge to the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee President Joe Biden.
Phillips is critical of the two-party political system in America and has argued Americans are not content with Biden or former President Donald Trump, who is currently ahead in the Republican primary polls.
“I am thinking about it. I haven’t ruled it out,” said Phillips during a Sept. 26 appearance on The Warning podcast.
“I think there are people who are more proximate, better prepared to campaign with national organizations, national name recognition, which I do not possess,” he said.
Phillips expressed concern that there is “no alternative” and believes other Democrats should consider challenging Biden.
“I’m concerned that something could happen between now and next November that would make the Democratic Convention in Chicago an unmitigated disaster,” said Phillips.
In July, Phillips called for a “generational change” and that suggested most members of the Democrat Party shared his point of view.
“I think the country would be well-served by a new generation of compelling, well-prepared, dynamic Democrats who step up,” he said during a radio interview, per ABC News.
Phillips was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and has served three terms.
Prior to his political career, Phillips worked for multiple small businesses including his family’s company, Phillips Distilling, and Talenti Gelato, which he helped build “into one of the top-selling ice cream brands in the country,” according to his website.
“I think I’m well positioned to be president of the United States,” said Phillips during an interview with Minneapolis Star Tribune in August. “I do not believe I’m well positioned to run for it right now. People who are should jump in because we need to meet the moment. The moment is now.”
Biden currently has two challengers – Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. According to a poll from HarrisX that was conducted between Sept. 13 and Sept. 19, 31% of registered voters say they would support Biden in the Democratic primary and 28% say they would support Kennedy. Another 16% of respondents said they would pick someone else and 20% said they don’t know or are unsure. Among registered Democrats, Biden has 62% support and RFK Jr. has 16% support.
The poll also asked participants who they would prefer to be the Democratic presidential nominee if Biden decides not to run in 2024. The majority of registered Democrats indicated they would back Vice President Kamala Harris (43%) or Kennedy (20%) while 16% said they’d like to see someone else on the ticket.
Biden’s approval rating has been consistently lower than his disapproval rating for the majority of his presidency. As of Sept. 25, Rassumsen Reports indicated Biden has an approval index of -20.
