- The Washington Times - Friday, December 8, 2023

Rep. Dean Phillips, the long-shot Democratic candidate running against President Biden, is filing challenges with the Democratic National Committee and state parties that are trying to keep him off primary ballots.

The Minnesota Democrat found that he was left off ballots in Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee, even though he launched his bid in October ahead of primary candidate deadlines.

“Unilaterally taking away the right of rank and file Democrats, including a disproportionate number of Black voters demanding a more affordable America, is reprehensible,” Mr. Phillips said in a statement to the Semafor news site. “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 suppressing and disenfranchising millions of voters.”

In Florida, Democrats canceled the March primary and approved only Mr. Biden as the party’s candidate for the national election. Florida Democratic Chairwoman Nikki Fried told the outlet that ahead of its state convention in October, it had not heard from Mr. Phillips or other candidates.

“Americans would expect the absence of democracy in Tehran, not Tallahassee,” Mr. Phillips wrote on X. “The Florida Democratic Party’s intentional disenfranchisement of voters runs counter to everything for which our Democratic Party and country stand. Our mission as Democrats is to defeat authoritarians, not become them.”

Ms. Fried responded by saying the party followed its “standard process” outlined on its website.

“We are dismayed by Dean Phillps’ conspiratorial and inappropriate comments comparing the state of Florida to the Iranian regime as part of his knee-jerk reaction to long-established procedures,” Fried told Politico. “This is unbecoming of someone running for higher office.”

Mr. Phillips submitted over 3,000 signatures to make it on the ballot in Tennessee by Dec. 5, the state’s deadline. The same day, the secretary of state announced that only Mr. Biden would be on the ballot, but Mr. Phillips might appear after a review of signatures.

Reports found that North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Anderson Clayton listed only Mr. Biden for the primary ballot in a letter to the state board of elections.

The Washington Times has reached out to the DNC and the Tennessee and North Carolina Democratic parties for comment.

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.

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