Do Democrats Owe Dean Phillips An Apology?
MINNEAPOLIS — In July 2022, Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota became the first member of Congress to publicly say President Joe Biden should not seek re-election.
Phillips warned of the risks in moving forward with a non-competitive primary, expressing concern over re-nominating an incumbent he saw as vulnerable.
Just over a year later, in October 2023, the center-left Democrat doubled down on his message by announcing his own candidacy to challenge Biden for the party's nomination.
The backlash was swift. Phillips was met with widespread criticism from fellow Democrats, and he was accused of being arrogant and disloyal. He was left increasingly isolated from party leaders and mainstream support.
However, Phillips was seen as vindicated after Biden's disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump in June. That debate sparked a trickle, and then a tidal wave, of calls for Biden to drop out of the race — pressure he ultimately yielded to.
"Speak only if it improves upon the silence. -Gandhi," Phillips wrote on social media, taking a victory lapse of sorts.
But Biden's timing in dropping out may have been far too late. With no time left for another primary, the party handpicked Vice President Kamala Harris, giving her only a brief window to launch her own campaign against Trump.
Harris and her running mate — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — lost to Trump on Tuesday without claiming a single swing state.
The 2024 election may stand as a powerful lesson for Democrats on the importance of internal dissent and debate. Phillips' early warnings were dismissed as disloyalty, yet his predictions about the risks of a non-competitive primary proved prescient.
The party's choice to rally behind an unopposed incumbent ended in a late, chaotic handoff to Harris, leaving her with limited time to build momentum.
The ensuing loss to Trump underscores the costs of silencing dissenting voices. As Democrats reflect on this outcome, Phillips' challenge to party orthodoxy may inspire a rethinking of how future candidates are chosen and a renewed appreciation for the role of competition in strengthening a party's platform and appeal.
