Minnesota congressman challenges Biden in Democratic presidential primary

Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., announced his presidential candidacy Thursday, officially facing off against incumbent President Joe Biden for the Democratic Party’s nomination. Phillips’ campaign kickoff included releasing an ad Friday morning before hosting an afternoon event in New Hampshire. While Phillips has supported most of Biden’s policies, the 54-year-old has been outspoken that Biden’s advanced age and low approval ratings could hurt his reelection bid. Phillips has recently voiced support for Israel during the Hamas conflict, and in August called for enacting congressional term limits.

What are his odds of winning the nomination? Media outlets have called Phillips an underdog candidate and his campaign a long shot. No incumbent president in modern history has lost their party’s primary nomination to another candidate. The last candidate to beat an incumbent president in a state primary election was Sen. Ted Kennedy in 1980, though President Jimmy Carter still received the party nomination. 

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report in The Stew on the latest Republican primary debate.