In a surprising move on Friday, Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips announced that he will not seek reelection to Congress next year as he sets his sights on a long-shot challenge against President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination in 2024. Phillips, who has been a vocal advocate for generational change, stated that after three terms, it is time to pass the torch.

Last month, Phillips formally launched his campaign for the Democratic presidential nod in New Hampshire, citing concerns over President Biden's age and low approval ratings. While acknowledging Biden as "terrific," Phillips expressed worries that the incumbent president would not fare well in a general election rematch against former President Donald Trump. This concern motivated Phillips to step up and offer an alternative within his own party.

As the scion of a Minnesota distilling business and former chairman of Talenti Gelato, Phillips has expressed his commitment to invest as much of his multimillion-dollar fortune as necessary to secure victory in his bid for the Democratic nomination.

Phillips was first elected to Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District in 2018, triumphantly unseating a Republican incumbent by 11 points. Interestingly, this district had not elected a Democrat to the House in over 50 years. With strong support from the wealthy suburbs around Minneapolis, Phillips easily won reelection in both 2020 and 2022.

Prior to Phillips' announcement, Minnesota State Senator Kelly Morrison and Democratic National Committee member Ron Harris had already declared their plans to seek the Democratic nomination for the 3rd District.

As Phillips embarks on his ambitious endeavor to challenge Biden within the Democratic Party, he faces significant intraparty opposition. Many Democrats are focusing on unifying around President Biden, defending against independent candidates who could potentially play the role of spoilers, and highlighting the accomplishments of the administration to voters.

The coming months will be crucial as Phillips navigates his campaign, attempting to garner support and make his case for a new direction for the Democratic Party in the 2024 election. It remains to be seen how the race for the Democratic nomination will unfold and whether Phillips can overcome the odds stacked against him to secure a spot on the ticket.