Democrats are seeking out moderate Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota to challenge President Joe Biden in a 2024 primary, Politico reported Friday.
As concerns over Biden’s age and approval ratings and the effects of third-party candidates continue to mount, Democrats are looking for another contender to emerge, according to Politico. Phillips is meeting with Democratic donors in New York City next week to discuss a potential bid, which would only come if there’s a serious decline in the president’s health or standing among the electorate.
“Nobody wants to be the one to do something that would undermine the chances of a Democratic victory in 2024,” Phillips previously told Politico. “Yet in quiet rooms the conversation is just the opposite — we could be at a higher risk if this path is cleared.”
A spokesperson for the congressman confirmed Politico’s reporting with the Daily Caller News Foundation. (RELATED: ‘Just So Old’: Democrats Reveal Why They Don’t Want Biden To Run Again)
Along with Phillips’ support for a Democratic primary, donors are also eyeing Phillips for a potential White House bid because of his criticism of centrist organization No Labels for floating a third-party “unity ticket” in 2024, according to Politico. Democrats are worried such a candidate would siphon off more votes from Biden than the Republican nominee, leading to a potential second term for former President Donald Trump.
“If No Labels runs a Joe Manchin against Donald Trump and Joe Biden, I think it will be a historic disaster,” Phillips previously told The New York Times. “And I speak for just about every moderate Democrat and frankly most of my moderate Republican friends.”
US President Joe Biden speaks about the administration’s deficit reduction in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 21, 2022. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP via Getty Images)
Biden’s approval rating currently sits at 38%, with 52% disapproving of the president, according to a Big Village CARAVAN poll conducted July 24 to July 26.
The third-term congressman was first elected to the House in 2018, beating his Republican opponent 55.6% to 44.2%, and most recently secured reelection in 2022 by nearly 20 points, according to Ballotpedia. Before entering politics, Phillips was a businessman.
The RealClearPolitics (RCP) average for a 2024 national Democratic primary, based on polls conducted between July 5 and July 20, indicates that Biden has 63.2% support, followed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson with 13.7% and 5.3% support, respectively.
Biden did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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