Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips announced on Wednesday his decision to withdraw from the 2024 Democratic presidential primary, pledging his support to incumbent President Joe Biden.
In a statement released on social media, Phillips said, “I ran for Congress in 2018 to resist Donald Trump, I was trapped in the Capitol in 2021 because of Donald Trump, and I ran for President in 2024 to resist Donald Trump again – because Americans were demanding an alternative, and democracy demands options. However, it is clear that I am not that alternative. Joe Biden is OUR candidate and OUR opportunity to demonstrate what type of country America is and intends to be.”
Phillips’ decision comes in the wake of Biden’s strong performance in this year’s Democratic primary contests, from the South Carolina primary on February 3 through Super Tuesday, as he steadily advances towards the party nomination. Despite a focused campaign in New Hampshire, Phillips was unable to secure a win in the January primary, which did not comply with Democratic National Committee rules. Biden won through an unofficial write-in campaign launched by his Granite State supporters.
With Phillips’ exit, author Marianne Williamson remains the last notable primary challenger to Biden. Williamson initially withdrew from the race on February 7 but later revived her campaign after finishing ahead of Phillips in the Michigan primary.
Phillips, who launched his presidential campaign in October, had voiced concerns that Biden would lose a general election rematch against former President Donald Trump. However, his campaign faced financial challenges, leading to staff layoffs and the cancellation of a planned trip to Michigan in February.
Throughout his campaign, Phillips shifted left on several policy issues, endorsing “Medicare for All” and universal basic income pilot programs. His campaign was endorsed by entrepreneur Andrew Yang, who had centered his unsuccessful 2020 Democratic presidential bid on a universal basic income plan.
Phillips, a former chairman of Talenti Gelato and heir to a Minnesota distilling business, was first elected to Congress in 2018. He won reelection in 2020 and 2022, and announced he would not seek a fourth term shortly after launching his presidential bid.
This story will be updated with additional information as it becomes available.