Phillips bids farewell with humor, candor and a challenge to Minnesotans

In a meeting room overflowing with more than 300 attendees at Ridgedale Library in Minnetonka, U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips hosted his final town hall Monday evening, reflecting on six years in Congress with his characteristic mix of humor, candor and emotion.

Phillips, a Democrat representing Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District, which spans the western Twin Cities suburbs, including Eden Prairie, used the evening to address his controversial presidential run, tackle tough audience questions and pass the baton to his successor, Kelly Morrison, a fellow Democrat who defeated Republican Tad Jude earlier this month.

“Seven years ago, I held my first town hall at the Southdale Library. Who here was at that meeting?” he asked, scanning the audience. Hands shot up. “That blows my mind. I walked into that library not knowing anything about politics, completely unprepared. I just woke up after the 2016 election and promised my daughters I’d do something. Many of you joined me on that journey.”

The evening felt like déjà vu, he said, as the nation grappled with the recent election of former President Donald Trump to a second term.

“The last six years have been miraculous, joyful, painful and meaningful,” Phillips said. “No matter how you feel about recent elections – whether you’re celebrating or dismayed – please keep the faith, stay engaged and remain optimistic. We are the luckiest people in human history. Challenges will come, but we in this district, in this state and in this country are incredibly fortunate. That means we have a responsibility to show the rest of the country and the world how to keep it together.”

Phillips urged his audience to embrace respect and understanding in a polarized political climate.

“Treat each other with respect. Celebrate differences. Learn from one another. That’s why I did what I did. I was willing to lose my job for it, and I would do it a thousand times again because it’s what my forebears taught me was right.”

Addressing the fallout from his presidential bid

After introductory remarks and a short video highlighting his six years in Congress, Phillips opened the floor to audience questions.

One query referenced his recent presidential bid: “You are a prophet letting our country know that new leadership is needed. How do your Democratic colleagues feel about you being a prophet?”

Phillips, who had challenged President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination earlier this year, responded with a mix of humor and candor. Phillips had previously discussed his presidential bid during an Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce luncheon in August.

“Well, let me just say this – they don’t think I walk on water. They know I walk on ice,” he quipped, drawing laughter.

Switching to a more serious tone, he reflected on criticism from fellow Democrats, sharing his frustration with the political culture in Congress. During his presidential run, Phillips opted not to seek another term in the House.

“I appreciate the sentiment behind your question, thank you. But let me be honest – one of my greatest disappointments in this entire career hasn’t been the country itself, but rather my colleagues, both Republican and Democratic – whose cowardice, and I don’t know a better word for it, is extraordinarily consequential to this country,” Phillips said. “Their unwillingness to simply be transparent and honest, and their fear of forgoing their jobs for the greater good of the country, its traditions and its Constitution is deeply troubling to me.”

During his campaign, Phillips argued that Biden’s age and declining approval ratings posed risks for Democrats in 2024. Though his campaign was short-lived – he ultimately dropped out and endorsed Biden in March – his concerns were validated when Biden announced in July that he would not seek reelection, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris instead.

“A lot of my Democratic colleagues are still really upset with me – not because I was saying something they didn’t already know or believe, but because I said it out loud,” he said. “What I said made people uncomfortable. And damn it, my friends, sometimes we have to make people uncomfortable.”

Bridging divides on key issues

The discussion soon shifted to other pressing issues — including abortion, gun violence prevention, immigration and tariffs — where Phillips urged empathy and pragmatic solutions. Early in the meeting, however, he acknowledged with a touch of humor, “I won’t be able to do much about them anymore.”

On abortion, Phillips, a staunch pro-choice Democrat, acknowledged the complex moral and legal terrain of the issue. “I’m a pro-choice Democrat. I don’t like abortion. I don’t want more abortions,” he said. “But these issues often pit people’s values against legal realities. It’s not about compromising our principles – it’s about celebrating differences and doing our best to uphold the protections our Constitution provides.”

Similarly, Phillips rejected the term “gun control,” instead calling for “gun violence prevention,” emphasizing that as a gun owner, he could not imagine any responsible gun owner wanting to see children slaughtered in schools or public places. “None of us want more abortions, and none of us want more gun violence,” he said. “If we start with that shared understanding, we can make progress.”

Turning to immigration, Phillips reflected on the real-world implications of policies championed by Trump, particularly for children of undocumented immigrants. Drawing from recent conversations with school superintendents, he shared the fear many children live with — that their families could face separation due to deportation.

“These kids – through no fault of their own – are living in constant fear,” Phillips said. “It’s heartbreaking to think that they may feel like children during World War II, hiding in attics, wondering if someone is coming for their family.”

He emphasized the need for empathy, arguing that the U.S. must celebrate immigration while also balancing enforcement. “Unless your ancestors were indigenous to this land or brought here on a slave ship, every single one of us is an immigrant,” he said. “We should raise the bar for illegal immigration and lower the bar for legal immigration. That’s how we can move forward.”

The conversation about tariffs also emerged in the context of Trump’s campaign promises to impose steep tariffs, a policy Phillips cautioned could have serious economic consequences. While he acknowledged the possibility of strategic tariff increases, he warned that blanket increases could fuel inflation.

“Strategic increases in tariffs can be a good thing in certain cases,” he said. “But across-the-board tariff increases will absolutely result in the worst inflation we’ve ever known in our lifetime.”

Looking ahead: Civic engagement and bipartisanship

Phillips made it clear he has no plans to run for governor or Senate but emphasized he isn’t stepping away from public service.

“I’m not exactly riding off into the sunset, metaphorically or otherwise,” he said. “I’m not giving up, and I’m not moving on – I’m just stepping aside to give someone else a chance.”

He expressed confidence in Morrison as his successor and reflected on how he might continue serving the country. “I’m thinking about how I can take what I’ve learned over the past few years and apply it to make a difference in areas that need structural change.”

Phillips urged Minnesotans to engage in civic life, particularly in primaries. “If more than 12% of Americans voted in primaries, we’d see better candidates and more thoughtful leaders.”

Later, Phillips criticized both major parties for stifling competition and prioritizing stakeholders over voters. “These two private entities do not answer to voters – they answer to their stakeholders,” he said. He argued that systemic reform within his party is necessary but added that creating a third-party alternative might be essential if meaningful change doesn’t occur. “Without competition, things will only get worse,” he warned. “To rise in either party, you must be ideologically pure or perform a hostile takeover.”

Phillips also encouraged the audience to connect with those who hold differing views, sharing his experience of finding common ground with conservative colleagues, including GOP House Majority Leader Mike Johnson, at a Thursday prayer breakfast.

“The only way we will ever discover the shared humanity is if we take a step toward each other instead of away,” he said.

Middle East tensions: a deeply personal challenge

The final question of the evening addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, an issue Phillips described as one of the most personally challenging of his career. Speaking as a Jewish American, he reflected on Israel’s historical role as a sanctuary for his faith while expressing deep anguish over the ongoing violence.

“There are 150 Christian-majority nations in the world, and 75 or so Muslim-majority nations. But there’s only one Jewish-majority nation: Israel,” he said. “So, yes, I care deeply about Israel. But I don’t care more deeply about Jewish people than I do about Muslims, Christians, Buddhists or agnostics. I care deeply about all people.”

Phillips condemned Hamas unequivocally, describing the organization as bearing significant responsibility for the current crisis. “The people responsible for this violence are Hamas. Let me say that again: Hamas has more blood on their hands than any organization or government in the world right now,” he said.

Yet, Phillips did not hesitate to criticize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he accused of enacting policies that undermine Israel’s long-term security. “As a Jewish American representative, I went to Jerusalem and told him he was wrong,” Phillips said. “I told him that expanding settlements and allowing violence in the West Bank doesn’t protect Israel – it endangers it.”

Phillips also pushed back against accusations of genocide regarding the Israeli government’s actions, making a distinction between the Holocaust and the current conflict. “The Holocaust was a genocide, an intentional effort to exterminate people of a certain faith,” he said. “What’s happening in the Middle East right now is not a genocide. It is an effort to preserve and protect the sanctity of a nation that has been constantly at risk.”

The question, Phillips said, was emblematic of his approach to public service. “It’s what I’ve tried to do for the last six years: tell people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. I did this at personal cost, time and again.”

Passing the baton to Morrison

Near the end of the meeting, Phillips introduced Morrison, describing her as “one of the most principled, high-character individuals I’ve ever known.”

Phillips shared that their friendship extends back decades. Both graduated from The Blake School in 1987, where Phillips was voted “Best Laugh” and Morrison “Best Smile” in their high school yearbook.

“Moral of the story? It doesn’t matter what college you went to, how much money you have or what your job is. If you know how to laugh and smile, anything is possible in America,” Phillips quipped.

Morrison highlighted her 20-year career as a physician and her legislative record, which she said includes passing more than 90 bipartisan bills in the Minnesota House and Senate. She emphasized her focus on lowering healthcare costs, supporting veterans and improving public safety.

“I have very big shoes to fill,” said Morrison, an OB-GYN. “Congressman Phillips has served with thoughtfulness, principle and compassion, always putting constituents and country first.”

Phillips’ final reflection: A call for reconciliation

As the evening came to an end, Phillips shared a story that, for him, captured the essence of his hopes for the nation. He described a Common Ground session, an initiative he launched to bring together Democrats and Republicans from his district for honest discussions over shared meals.

One moment stood out. “Emily, a young woman, looked across the table at Dave and said, ‘Dave, when you drove up in your F-150, and I saw that Trump sticker on your bumper, I almost got back in my car and left,’” Phillips recounted. “Then she smiled and said, ‘But Dave, I really like you. I’ve learned we have a lot in common, and I’m so glad I stayed.’”

Dave’s response was just as unexpected. “He told Emily, ‘When you pulled up in your Prius, I wanted to run it over. But after sitting with you today, I’ve realized we share frustrations about the same challenges and hope for the same opportunities.’”

The two stood and embraced, a moment Phillips said reflected the purpose of his time in Congress.

“That was it,” he said. “That’s what I promised to try to achieve when I spoke to you all at the Southdale Library in 2017. Just one moment – just Dave and Emily – but they represented all of us.”