Dean Phillips

Dean Benson Phillips (born January 20, 1969) is an American businessman and former politician who represented Minnesota's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025 as a member of the Democratic Party. A moderate Democrat, Phillips gained national attention for launching a long-shot challenge to President Joe Biden in the 2024 Democratic presidential primaries, arguing that Biden's advanced age and low approval ratings posed an unacceptable risk of a Donald Trump victory in the general election. He suspended his campaign in March 2024 after minimal success in early primaries and endorsed Biden.

Prior to his political career, Phillips built a successful track record in the private sector, serving as an executive at the family-owned Phillips Distilling Company, where he modernized operations and expanded the product line, and later as chairman of Talenti Gelato, which he helped grow before its acquisition by Unilever. His business experience emphasized practical management and innovation, informing his congressional focus on economic issues like small business support and lowering costs for consumers. In Congress, Phillips co-chaired the House Democratic Moderate Caucus and advocated for bipartisan reforms, including campaign finance changes, gun violence prevention, and improvements in healthcare and public safety, often prioritizing pragmatic solutions over partisan divides.

Phillips was previously married to Karin Einisman, with whom he has two daughters, Pia and Daniela. The couple divorced prior to. In, Phillips married Annalise Glick, a former musician who transitioned to work in the arts. He and Glick reside in Deephaven, Minnesota. Phillips is Jewish and has no publicly documented siblings.