Dean Phillips
Dean Phillips | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – October 1, 2024 | |
| Leader | Hakeem Jeffries |
| Preceded by | Debbie Dingell Matt Cartwright Ted Lieu |
| Succeeded by | Lori Trahan |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 3rd district | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Erik Paulsen |
| Succeeded by | Kelly Morrison |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dean Benson Pfefer January 20, 1969 Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Karin Einisman
(m. 1995; div. 2015)Annalise Glick
(m. 2019; div. 2024) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Pauline Phillips (grandmother) Eppie Lederer (great aunt) |
| Education | Brown University (BA) University of Minnesota (MBA) |
Dean Benson Phillips (né Pfefer; born January 20, 1969) is an American politician, businessman, philanthropist, and former presidential candidate who served from 2019 to 2025 as the U.S. representative for Minnesota's 3rd congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, Phillips is the former chairman and co-owner of Talenti Gelato, former co-owner of Belvedere Vodka, former co-owner of Penny's Coffee in the Twin Cities area, and president and CEO of his family's distilled spirits business, Phillips Distilling Company.
Phillips was first elected in 2018, defeating six-term Republican incumbent Erik Paulsen. He became the first Democrat to win the seat since 1958, and was reelected twice by comfortable margins. In November 2023, Phillips announced that he would not run for another House term. Phillips is generally considered a moderate Democrat. Despite consistently voting in support of President Joe Biden's policy positions, he challenged him for the Democratic Party nomination in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Phillips received four delegates to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, the second-most of any candidate in the primaries, making him the runner-up to Biden for the 2024 Democratic nomination.