Dean Phillips to file presidential bid in New Hampshire Friday

Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) will file his candidacy for president in New Hampshire on Friday, the New Hampshire secretary of state’s office said.

A spokesperson for the office confirmed to The Hill that Phillips, a three-term House Democrat who has been considering a possible presidential run for months, will file at 10 a.m. Friday, which is the last day that candidates will be able to file to get on the ballot. CBS News previously reported the confirmation.

Phillips has repeatedly called for a competitive Democratic primary instead of President Biden running virtually unopposed for the nomination. He has praised Biden’s performance as president but said he believes the party and country should move on to a new generation of leaders.

Biden is currently only facing minor opposition for the nomination. Author Marianne Williamson is running against him, but she has been unable to gain any traction in the polls and her fundraising has been poor.

Environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was running in the Democratic primary until earlier this month, when he ended his bid to instead run as an independent.

Phillips will likely be a long shot for the nomination, facing an incumbent president and having low national name recognition. One of the indicators that Phillips might have been thinking of a run was his decision a few weeks ago to step down from his position in Democratic leadership in the House, having served as co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.

He previously said he would encourage other Democrats to run against Biden.

CBS reported that Phillips plans to focus on New Hampshire and decide where to turn to next based on how he performs in the state.

The Hill has reached out to Phillips for comment.

Phillips’s plans come after Biden’s campaign confirmed that the president will not have his name appear on the ballot for the New Hampshire primary, citing guidance from the Democratic National Committee. Biden could still be written in on the ballot.

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