Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips became one of the first elected Democrats to say President Joe Biden should not run for reelection in 2024, calling for a “generational change” within the party.
“No, I don’t” think Biden should run again, Phillips told Minneapolis-based radio host Chad Hartman on Thursday, adding that he thinks “most of my colleagues feel the same way.” Saying that he has “respect” for Biden, Phillips nevertheless noted that the president has made “some mistakes and some missteps.”
“I think the country would be well-served by a new generation of compelling, well-prepared, dynamic Democrats to step up,” the second-term representative explained.
“I think he’s a man of decency, of good principle, of compassion, of empathy and of strength,” Phillips added, claiming that his position was not about Biden personally.
Minnesota’s 3rd District Congressman Dean Phillips just told @ChadHartmanShow on @wccoradio he does NOT want President Joe Biden to run for reelection in ’24, and says “it is time for a new generation”. Adds that it is crucial Donald Trump “and his cronies” are not elected.
— Lindsey Peterson (@lpeterson830) July 28, 2022
Phillips also reiterated his criticisms of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC) strategy of boosting Republican candidates who claim the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump. DCCC chairman Sean Patrick Maloney has defended the practice as “telling the truth.” (RELATED: Primary Challenger Attacks DCCC Chair For Boosting Stop The Steal Republicans)
“We need to have more principle in our politics. We need common sense. And I’m afraid that both parties are part of a significant problem that Americans should take heed of. I do believe political competition would be healthy,” Phillips said.
Phillips is one of the first elected Democrats to call on Biden to sit out a 2024 campaign. Several members of the left flank of the party, including New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Missouri Rep. Cori Bush, have declined to endorse Biden. Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has ruled out a primary challenge to Biden, but is reportedly considering a third White House campaign if Biden bows out.
Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin pointedly declined to endorse Biden in a Thursday podcast interview, telling Chris Cuomo that he would “wait and see… depending on who the Republican nominee is.”
Biden became the oldest president when he was sworn into office in January 2021, and would be 86 in 2029 at the completion of a hypothetical second term. Only 25% of Democrats want their party to renominate Biden in 2024, a CNN poll released Thursday found.