Competition or Coronation? Congressman Dean Phillips, Presidential Candidate

Congressman Dean Phillips is running as a Democrat against Joe Biden. He states that his mission is to do everything in his power to prevent Donald Trump from regaining the White House. Open Primaries sponsored a meeting on January 16, 2024, during which Phillips noted that Biden has reached historically low poll numbers. Regardless of his unpopularity the Democratic Party has taken steps to eliminate competition during primary voting. Phillips acknowledged the potential for a third party candidate to act as a spoiler, handing the presidency to Trump. But Phillips said that he will support whatever candidate is in the best position to win and thwart Trump’s effort to regain the White House – whether or not that candidate is himself.

Phillips noted that elections that are run by the major parties are stifling competition, suppressing new ideas and practical problem solving in order to maintain control over the current system at any cost. He cited recent national polling in which Independent voter registration is at about 48 percent. 

Phillips supports Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), open primaries in which all qualified candidates appear on the primary ballot, and open competition even when popular incumbent candidates are running for office. Although he is running as a Democrat, he states that should he prevail, he will serve as an independently minded president, and that his cabinet will include a diversity of party representation.  

Although Phillips is on the ballot in a number of states including New Hampshire (where he is polling at 24%), he has faced opposition largely from the Democratic Party. He notes that the Democratic Party managed to keep him off of the ballot in Florida and in North Carolina.  He launched his campaign at the end of October, polling at two percent. In just the last eight weeks his poll numbers have increased, and he is now at eight percent. You can find out more about the Dean Phillips campaign and the priority issues that he has identified, at Dean24.com or email Dean Phillips at Hello@Dean24.com.