Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota made a surprising announcement on Wednesday, suspending his long-shot campaign for the Democratic nomination and endorsing President Biden. This decision comes after Mr. Phillips, one of the wealthiest members of Congress, spent millions of his own money on his campaign, arguing that the president was a weak candidate due to his age and low approval numbers.
Despite his efforts to position himself as a younger, new generation leader, Mr. Phillips failed to gain traction with voters. His campaign peaked with a second-place finish in New Hampshire’s primary election, but quickly declined from there. He suffered embarrassing defeats in states like South Carolina and Michigan, where he earned less than 3 percent of the vote.
Throughout his campaign, Mr. Phillips openly criticized President Biden, which led to a decline in his influence within the Democratic party. He even stepped down from a leadership position in the House as he contemplated entering the race. By the time he announced his campaign, Democratic lawmakers and party officials were openly expressing their contempt for his primary challenge.
Despite the setbacks, Mr. Phillips remained committed to his campaign, even declaring early on that he had “torpedoed” his career in Congress. He also announced that he would not seek re-election in his congressional seat, a district that includes suburban Minneapolis.
In a post on social media, Mr. Phillips thanked his supporters and urged them to join him in mobilizing and energizing to help keep President Biden in the White House. With his endorsement of the president, Mr. Phillips is now shifting his focus to supporting the Biden administration and ensuring a more responsive and democratic political system.
