Dean Phillips

Dean Benson Phillips (born January 20, 1969) is an American businessman and politician who has served as the U.S. representative from since 2019. Phillips's district encompasses the western suburbs of the Twin Cities, such as Bloomington, Minnetonka, Edina, Maple Grove, Plymouth, and Eden Prairie. A member of the Democratic Party, Phillips has both owned and started several companies in addition to serving as president and CEO of his family's liquor business, the Phillips Distilling Company. He is the former co-owner of Talenti gelato and co-owns Penny's Coffee. First elected in 2018, Phillips defeated six-term Republican incumbent Erik Paulsen. By flipping the once staunchly Republican district, he became the first Democrat to win the seat since 1958. He has since been reelected twice. Phillips is considered a centrist and a moderate Democrat. With a net worth of $77 million in 2018, Phillips is one of the wealthiest members of Congress. In 2023, he announced his intent to challenge incumbent President Joe Biden for the Democratic Party's nomination in the 2024 presidential election. Early life, education, and career Phillips was born to DeeDee (Cohen) and Artie Pfefer in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1969. Artie was killed in the Vietnam War when Phillips was six months old. DeeDee later married Eddie Phillips, heir to the Phillips Distilling Company and the son of advice columnist Pauline Phillips. In the early 1970s, Phillips moved from Saint Paul to Edina. He attended The Blake School.