Rep. Dean Phillips misses filing deadline for Nevada's presidential primary, won't be on ballot

If Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips intends to mount a serious primary challenge against President Joe Biden, he must decide soon. Phillips missed a Monday deadline to file as a candidate for the Nevada presidential preference primary election, meaning he won't be on the ballot in that early-voting state if he chooses to run. The Minnesota Democrat has blown past his self-imposed September time frame to decide whether to challenge Biden. His reluctance to make a decision so far has now put him at a disadvantage in a potential contest against Biden.

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More primary election filing deadlines are approaching, including in the closely watched state of New Hampshire on Oct. 27. Asked about Phillips potentially running a primary against Biden, New Hampshire Democratic U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster told the Star Tribune, "I think it's the best thing Donald Trump could ever ask for." "There's no path. There's no outcry," Kuster said. "Personally, I think it's a vanity project by Mr. Phillips, and I think it could do serious damage by emboldening the Trump Republicans."

In a text message to the Star Tribune, Phillips acknowledged that he did not file for Nevada's primary but declined to elaborate further. He did not comment on recent criticism about a possible Democratic presidential primary run.

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Phillips has made it clear that he will support Biden if the incumbent is the Democratic nominee. But there's real fear among Democrats that what Phillips is doing could weaken Biden and help Republican Donald Trump return to the White House. Trump is making a third straight White House run while being charged in several criminal cases this year, including over the failed attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

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https://www.startribune.com/rep-dean-phillips-misses-filing-deadline-for-nevadas-presidential-primary/600312832/