Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) criticized the party for a “total lack of leadership” and urged his colleagues to listen more to working-class voters across the country.
“This party needs a comprehensive change of direction and conventional wisdom no longer applies. A party with multiple silos, electoral committees and external groups needs to do its job strategically. You can't, and that means leadership,” Phillips, who ran in the primary against President Biden earlier this year, said in an interview with Politico. published Saturday morning.
“At the moment we have no leadership whatsoever. We have no rudder,” he said in his exit interview.
The outgoing Minnesota congressman criticized the Democratic Party following President-elect Trump's victory over Vice President Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Mr. Phillips, who abandoned his long-awaited bid for the White House in March, was one of the rare Democrats to call on Mr. Biden to step down months before the president took action in July.
“I don't know which Democrats my colleagues will point to as the leaders, the de facto leaders, but without that, frankly, I don't think much will happen,” he said in an interview.
“What do we have to do? Listen, it's not that hard. This isn't rocket science. This is expression. It starts with listening, and it starts with listening, something we almost turn our backs on.” “It means going out into the places and spaces and people and communities that you have been devoted to,” he added.
Phillips' comments come as Democrats are forced to recalibrate after Republicans won a trifecta in the last election cycle.
The retiring Democratic congressman said it's “ironic” that the Republican Party “now represents America's working class,” and has traditionally voted Democratic, but has shifted to the right in the 2024 election. referred to voters. According to Close voting.
“It’s amazing that it was given to them by people who have prioritized tenure over talent, identity politics over real problem solving, and it’s so easy to do that. It takes leadership,” Phillips said.
Phillips, Minnesota's No. 3 congressman, did not rule out running for public office again.
“I never say never, but I really don't intend to or want to. I absolutely want to make a difference and at least believe I'm really wrong.” “I would like to draw your attention to that and that it is not political,” he said. “It's pragmatic and realistic. I think the parties need some form of competition. It actually creates a mechanism for people to come together and work together instead of being divided in corners and fighting each other.” That's the only thing I think. So I'm looking forward to some role.”
