Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dean Phillips is planning a legal battle against state parties that have chosen to list only President Biden on their 2024 primary ballot and exclude all other challengers.
Phillips (D-Minn.) has expressed frustration at being sidelined on the ballot in states like Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee, and hopes to file a challenge against those state Democrats and the Democratic National Committee, Semafor reported.
“Unilaterally disenfranchising rank-and-file Democrats, including the disproportionate number of Black voters who demand a more affordable America, is reprehensible,” Phillips said in a statement.
“If Joe Biden is the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump and lead us to a safer, more affordable future, let him compete for that privilege without his supporters oppressing and disenfranchising millions of voters,” the 54-year-old added.
The Phillips campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post Friday.
After signing a declaration of candidacy to run for president and walking out of the New Hampshire Statehouse, Democratic Representative Dean Phillips addressed the crowd, Friday, Oct. 27. 2023, in Concord. AP
Florida Democrats voted during their state convention in October to simply submit Biden’s name for the primary ballot. Under state law, a presidential race may not be listed on voting day if the incumbent is running unopposed.
Phillips was furious about the Sunshine State Democrat’s decision at the time, comparing the move to Middle Eastern authoritarianism.
“The American people expect the absence of democracy in Tehran, not Tallahassee,” Phillips said. “Deliberate voter disenfranchisement goes against everything the Democratic Party and our country stand for.”
Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips and US Navy veteran Tom Sawyer, both Gold Star sons, speak during a campaign stop at the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton, New Hampshire. Reuters
In North Carolina, state Democratic Party chairman Anderson Clayton chose to simply list Biden “on the 2024 Democratic Primary ballot” in a letter sent to the state board of elections.
On Dec. 5, Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett confirmed Biden would be the only Democratic candidate on the ballot in the Volunteer State come Super Tuesday, although Hargett noted that Phillips had filed for ballot access and that the county election commission would review his request.
Phillips ran a campaign directly criticizing Biden’s age and record in office. Minnesota lawmakers argued Biden didn’t have the support to beat GOP front-runner Donald Trump, and he had to step up to prevent the 45th president from getting a second term.
Poll data shows Phillips averaged 3.4% support nationwide compared to Biden’s 68%, according to RealClearPolitics. Biden also faces a challenge from self-help author Marianne Williamson, who is polling at 8.4% in the RCP nationwide average.
Phillips missed the deadline to make the primary ballot in Nevada and focused his efforts in New Hampshire, where Biden could only write in because of the state’s dispute with the DNC over the date of the primary.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
