Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips, Who Challenged Biden, Calls His Party ‘Devoid Of Leadership’ Following Trump’s Victory

Outgoing Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minnesota) delivered a scathing critique of the Democratic Party, calling it “rudderless” and “devoid of leadership” in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s 2024 victory.

Phillips, 55, who mounted a short-lived primary challenge against President Joe Biden, urged Democrats to listen more closely to voters who have drifted from the party in recent years.

“A party that consists of multiple silos and campaign committees and outside groups cannot strategically do its job, and that means leadership,” Phillips told Politico. “Right now, we are totally devoid of leadership. We are rudderless.”

Phillips criticized the party’s internal structure and its failure to connect with America’s working-class voters, a demographic he noted is now strongly aligned with Republicans. “It’s ironic that the Republican Party is now representing America’s working class. It’s astounding,” Phillips said, adding that the shift occurred because Democrats prioritized “tenure over talent” and “identity politics over pragmatic problem-solving.”

Phillips is not alone in his frustration. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) also criticized the party’s reliance on seniority, citing the decision to appoint Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee over Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). “Within the Democratic Caucus, we are really stuck in our old ways of doing things,” Crockett said on MSNBC.

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), though no longer in leadership, remains a powerful figure within the party. Pelosi reportedly played a key role during the 2023 mutiny against Biden after his faltering debate performance and helped rally support for Connolly over Ocasio-Cortez. Phillips acknowledged Pelosi’s enduring influence but emphasized the need for generational change, expressing support for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Phillips, first elected to Congress in 2018 during the “blue wave,” rose to prominence as co-chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. In 2023, he launched a longshot primary challenge against Biden, citing concerns about the then-82-year-old president’s ability to win reelection. While Biden ultimately dropped out in July, Phillips reflected on his campaign as a necessary wake-up call for the party.

“We have put Americans in this position where they have to wonder if what they’re seeing is real, because members of Congress won’t even validate it,” Phillips said.

Although Phillips has no immediate plans to return to politics, he has not ruled out the possibility. For now, his parting message to Democrats is clear: the party must confront its leadership vacuum and reconnect with voters to reclaim power in Washington.

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