Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) expressed that not only was his voice dismissed during the election cycle, but so were the voices of many Americans. Appearing on “Fox News Sunday,” Phillips was asked by host Shannon Bream whether he felt sidelined by his own party throughout the campaign.
“Indeed, my voice was ignored, but it wasn’t just mine,” Phillips remarked. “Tens of millions of Americans felt their voices were suppressed, ignored, and left out of the process.”
As one of the few voices within the Democratic Party urging President Biden to step aside in favor of fresh leadership, Phillips had called for change months before it was formally acknowledged.
“I wasn’t the only one who saw what was coming, but I was the only one willing to say it publicly. The culture of silence in politics, where incentives discourage candid conversations, is damaging our country. This problem is not exclusive to any one party,” he explained.
Frustrated by the lack of competition within the Democratic Party, Phillips advocated for a more competitive political environment, emphasizing the importance of democratic primaries. Phillips also underscored that both major political parties need to work harder to meet the needs of the American people.
“No party has a monopoly on good ideas. I’m exhausted by the status quo. I aim to represent what I call the exhausted majority—Americans who are center-right and center-left, who deserve better,” he said.
Phillips concluded by stating that the solution to the nation’s issues cannot come solely from Congress or from the leadership of President Trump or President Biden. Instead, he called for a collective effort to move past distractions and work together to raise leaders of competence and integrity to address the urgent needs facing the country.