Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., announced Friday that he will not seek re-election to Congress as he mounts a longshot primary challenge to President Joe Biden.
Echoing statements he has made about Biden’s reelection campaign, Phillips said in a press release that after three terms in Congress it is “time to pass the torch.”
“My journey to public service began the morning after the 2016 election, when I faced the reality that democracy requires participation — not observation,” Phillips said. “Seven years have passed, each presenting historic opportunities to practice a brand of optimistic politics that repairs relationships and improves people’s lives.”
Phillips represents Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District, which is considered to be a safely Democratic seat. Several challengers filed to run against Phillips after he announced his presidential campaign.