St.
Paul Mayor Melvin Carter has endorsed Ron Harris, a former employee of
the city of Minneapolis, in a political primary bid against U.S. Rep.
Dean Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat running a centrist campaign against U.S. President Joe Biden in the party’s upcoming presidential primary in New Hampshire.
Ron Harris. (Courtesy of the candidate)
Harris is a former chief resilience officer for Minneapolis, where he
was active in efforts to expand paid sick leave to workers throughout
the city. He is a current member of the Democratic National Committee’s
executive committee and chairs the party’s Midwestern Caucus. Harris
graduated in 2012 from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a degree
in political science and government and was active in the Black Student
Association and College Democrats.
Harris, a staunch Biden supporter, announced his candidacy as Phillips was publicly considering his presidential challenge.
“I’ve seen how hard Ron works for his community — building strong
coalitions to advance our values,” said Carter, in a written statement
released by the Harris campaign on Wednesday. “We can count on Ron to
deliver for all of us and I’m excited to see him in Congress.”
[...]
U.S.
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN)(R) signs a guest book at the N.H. Statehouse,
under former President Trump’s signature, after handing over his
declaration of candidacy form for President to the New Hampshire
Secretary of State David Scanlan, on October 27, 2023 in Concord, New
Hampshire. (Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images)
In 2018, Phillips, 54, unseated U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen, a six-term
Republican incumbent, to represent the 3rd Congressional district, [...]
Raised in St. Paul, Phillips attended the Blake School, Brown
University and the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of
Management before running his family’s liquor business, the Phillips
Distilling Company, and later Talenti gelato and Penny’s Coffee. He’s
considered one of the richest members of Congress.
[...] Biden was in Minnesota on Wednesday. The presidential election will be held in November 2024, when Phillips would also be up for re-election.
Those are the facts. Phillips is a conservative Dem deemed by many as little different from Biden on policies. Crabgrass cannot yet find a Harris campaign website online, where one is expected, and where Harris would define policies.
Phillips as the incumbent is well known, relative to the challenger. Harris has a LinkedIn page, noting under Honors & Awards:
Hubert H. Humphrey Award for Dedication and Leadership
Minnesota DFL
Ron Harris has been a fantastic voice for Minnesota’s in the
Democratic National Committee. Serving as Chairman of the Midwestern
Caucus within the DNC, he has fought hard for our region’s priorities
and values on the national stage. Under his leadership, Democrats are
now stronger than ever in states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and, of
course, Minnesota. Additionally, Ron was instrumental in raising the
minimum wage and providing paid sick and safe time to everyone in
Minneapolis. Those who know Ron are quick to praise his dedication to
ensuring everyone can live their best lives. Ron Harris’ work ethic,
civic engagement, and commitment to improving people’s lives serves as
an inspiration to so many people. Ron Harris represents the best of us
DFLers, and he deserves the recognition for it.
That shows party bona fides. Where, of course, Phillips has his own history and recognition from within the party.
Catch up fast: Harris, who previously served as chief resilience officer for the city of Minneapolis, just recently began putting together his campaign, saying he wanted to be ready if Phillips does run for president.
In
a statement Friday, Harris said he's "ready to step up to ensure our
voices are heard, our community is represented, and our district gets
the resources we need" as Phillips continues to mull a bid for higher
office.
Of note: Voter registration records show Harris lives just outside the district, in Columbia Heights.
While
in-district residency is not required to run, an adviser told Axios
that Harris, who grew up in Coon Rapids and bought a house "one mile"
outside the district several years ago, does plan to move back within
its boundaries.
The other side:In a post on X,Phillips said he welcomes competition, but "as a MN-03 voter myself, I prefer candidates who actually live in the district."
State of play: The one-time swing district, which Phillips flipped in 2018, has trended blue in recent elections.
Phillips won his 2022 general election race by nearly 20 percentage points. He's yet to face a serious primary.
A
Democratic National Committee official is putting together a campaign
infrastructure in anticipation of a potential primary bid against Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Credible
intra-party challenges to congressional incumbents are rare, but
Phillips has rankled many in the Democratic establishment with his musings about a primary challenge against President Biden.
What we're hearing: Ron Harris,
a 33-year-old DNC Executive Committee member and Midwestern Caucus
Chair, has begun staffing up in a sign of his seriousness about a run.
Harris
has hired George Hornedo, a former top aide to Pete Buttigieg's 2020
presidential campaign, and the campaign is in the process of
interviewing consultants, according to a source familiar with the
matter.
Harris has suggested
his bid would be influenced by whether Phillips runs for president
– but has not ruled out a primary challenge if the three-term
congressman opts for reelection.
The big picture: Phillips,
who recently relinquished his position in Democratic leadership over
his opposition to renominating Biden, has caught the ire of many
Democrats in Congress and beyond.
In a telling sign, DNC
Chair Jaime Harrison said of Harris at the DNC's Fall meeting in St.
Louis on Thursday, "I am with him every step of the way, whatever he
decides to do," according to video viewed by Axios.
Phillips'
resignation as a co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications
Committee came after a colleague, Rep. Sydney Kamlager Dove (D-Calif.),
criticized his comments about Biden in a closed-door caucus meeting.
Yes, but: Phillips,
who has never faced a serious primary, won all three of his general
elections in the one-time swing district by over 10 percentage points.
Multiple
political operatives in Minnesota told Axios they don't see a clear
path for a same-party challenger to win at this time.
The other side: "Americans are demanding more competition in elections, not less," Phillips said in a statement to Axios resonant of what he has said in his advocacy for a Biden primary challenger.
"I welcome other candidates in the next race in MN-03, because Everyone's Invited!"
Now, Phillips being an actual and not potential primary opponent of Biden, the question is how seriously he'll pursue the contest, and whether his doing it will influence his regard among DFL voters within the district, when they caucus, and when they fill out their party primary ballots.
From Axios reporting, Harris (not related in any way to the VP) understands the party and personnel he might engage in his campaign. Whether he will be able to overcome Phillips as to campaign spending is unclear, although Phillips could self-finance his own efforts. From reporting, the guess is that Harris is not in that position and would depend upon contributions.
Crabgrass votes CD6, not CD3, so no opinion of how CD3 voters, months into the future, should and potentially would caucus and vote in the district's primary.
Ageism: Phillips touts his being younger than Biden, and suggests Biden is too old. Phillips has also mentioned Biden's present polling status. Crabgrass has in the past strongly suggested the Democratic Party has to be cognizant of and friendly toward the younger segment of voters. By that Crabgrass means the 18 - 34 bloc, with the future of the world being presently in K-12, so that the Party needs to lessen its average age loyalty.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN AGEISM ARGUED BY A 50+ SITTING POLITICIAN AGAINST AN 80+ POLITICIAN IS WHAT CRABGRASS HAS IN MIND. That point needs clarification. As one a year short of eighty, cogent and generally in good health, the criticism is not individually based at anyone, while noting Pelosi, Hoyer, Clyburn, and Biden are each over eighty, while the VP is in the Phillips age range.
The Party, overall, needs to get younger. Younger voters in polling tend to be more populist - progressive when favoring Dems, and that is a clear sign of what's good for the nation is the same as what's good for the Party - honoring the thinking of the young.
As to the Phillips - Harris CD3 contest; age is not a factor. The two are comparably aged. However, Phillips has campaigned on age as an overall issue of concern to him. Harris likely will not, given his reported strong support of Biden for a second term.
Crabgrass prefers Biden over Phillips, as the better candidate to hold the Presidency in Dem control, and not let the White House again be populated by Trump and his ilk. While never a strong lover of Biden's conservative - middle of the road corporatist leanings, Phillips seems an equivalent that way (if not more so), and per Crabgrass opinion - simply in the way.
In the way of Biden succeeding as "lesser evil than Trump" being the 2024 contest in its most likely embodiment. Time will pass, time will tell. The primaries will be in August 2024, and much can happen between now and then.
Crabgrass does not wish to see the Phillips possibility prematurely buried, it might turn out useful, but if Biden is brutally and needlessly torn down by one in his own party out of exceptional ambition, that would not be a good outcome.
________UPDATE_______
Axios reported Ron Harris as 33 yr. old. That makes him about twenty years younger than Phillips. Both are about equally experienced in party politics, although Phillips started at a higher rung. Phillips was born on third base, taking over an already prosperous family distillery. Born on third base but he hit his triple. As a businessman his segue into gelato proved out well, and shows he's no Dan Quayle, but instead has an unquestionably good mind. (Actually Quayle in private life has acuitted himself well, after being a target while VP.)
Harris has not had the opportunity to start from third base, but he has gained DFL recognition as reflected by the award noted on his LinkedIn page. Either could be a good Rep in Congress, certainly when compared to many Republicans there.
In terms of the Minnesota delegation, Emmer, Stauber and Fishbach {sp?) are each singularly unimpressive, (while each is a cut better than the all-time low, Ms. Bachmann). Keeping MN CD3 in Democrat hands is the aim, whether it be Harris as new blood in the delegation, or Phillips after abandoning things beyond the CD3 seat. The primary season in Minnesota is three-quarters of a year away, and things might happen from now to then.
Presidential primary season starts earlier.
BOTTOM LINE: For CD3, Phillips prospered in DC, and there is no cause to feel Harris would not earn equal respect among colleagues, if elected.
