Democratic Representative Dean Phillips has announced that he will not seek re-election for his seat in the U.S. House as he shifts his focus towards his insurgent primary campaign against President Joe Biden. Phillips, who represents Minnesota's Third Congressional District, intends to "pass the torch" to another Democrat and has asked Biden to do the same.

Though running for president does not prevent Phillips from seeking re-election to his House seat, he has stated that he plans to continue his presidential campaign well beyond the filing deadline for Congress in early June. Citing the responsibility towards his constituents and potential candidates in the race, Phillips believes it would be irresponsible to continue running for both positions.

With Phillips stepping down, the race for Minnesota's Third Congressional District seat is now up for grabs. DFL state Senator Kelly Morrison and Democratic National Committee member Ron Harris have both announced their campaigns for Phillips' congressional seat. In addition, DFL Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon has expressed his consideration to run if Phillips vacates his seat.

Morrison and Harris have thanked Phillips for his service in separate statements, while expressing their commitment to bring new leadership and address the apathy and cynicism in politics. Morrison, if elected, promises to be the only pro-choice OB-GYN in Congress, highlighting her past efforts to protect abortion rights in Minnesota.

As of now, no prominent Republicans have announced their campaigns for the seat. Phillips made history in 2018 by becoming the first Democrat to represent Minnesota's Third District in more than 50 years. While he commended Morrison and Harris as strong "next-generation candidates," Phillips refrained from endorsing anyone in the race, emphasizing the importance of passing the torch to new leaders.

Phillips' decision comes after his call for Biden not to seek re-election, which led to a decline in support from fellow Democrats. He resigned from his House Democratic leadership position last month, citing the difficulty of returning to Congress after the events that transpired.

Expressing concern for the Democrats' prospects in the upcoming elections, Phillips believes the party is on the path to an "unmitigated disaster." He cites polls showing Biden trailing former President Donald Trump in key battleground states as evidence of the party's sleepwalking approach. Phillips stands by his decision to challenge the status quo and hopes to inspire more politicians to prioritize principle over their careers.

Before his divergence from supporting Biden's re-election, Phillips was viewed as a rising star within the Democratic Party. Speculations about his future ambitions included running for governor or the U.S. Senate. However, Phillips emphatically stated that he never aspired to these positions and will never pursue them, asserting that the political system needs to change to prevent career politicians from stifling democracy.

Reflecting on his tenure in Congress, Phillips described it as a paradox. While he condemned the chamber's dysfunctionality and lack of bipartisanship, he took pride in his work on the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, which was signed into law by Trump. Phillips also cherished the opportunity to connect with his constituents and learn about the challenges they face, exemplifying the district's civic engagement and serving as an inspiration for the nation.

In conclusion, Rep. Dean Phillips' decision not to seek re-election to focus on his presidential primary campaign against President Joe Biden has left Minnesota's Third Congressional District seat open for aspiring Democrats. As the race begins to unfold, candidates such as Kelly Morrison and Ron Harris step forward, vying to carry the torch of leadership in a district that embodies the spirit of American democracy.