Dean Phillips

Phillips was born in 1969 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received a bachelor's degree from Brown University in 1991, and a master's degree in business from the University of Minnesota in 2000.[4]

From 1993 to 2012, Phillips worked as the president and chief executive officer of Phillips Distilling Company, a distillery and liquor brand owned by his family. He then worked as the executive chairman of Talenti Gelato from 2012 to 2016. In 2016, Phillips co-founded Penny's Coffee, a coffee shop chain in Minnesota.[5]

Dean Phillips did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Dean Phillips did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Dean Phillips did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Phillips’ campaign website stated the following:

Campaign Finance Reform

“No matter your number one issue, I ask that you make campaign finance reform your number two. The corrupting influence of special interest money in politics, and the time spent in its pursuit, are at the heart of the dysfunction in Washington, DC. Let’s begin to repair our government together.”

– Dean Phillips

Dean’s Plan

Dean is one of only seven known candidates in the country who refuses to accept money from PACs, special interest groups, federal lobbyists or members of Congress. While he ultimately supports overturning the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, Dean believes these are the steps we can we can take in the meantime that would make a meaningful difference:

Increase transparency in political spending

Dean believes we must shine a bright light on the massive amount of so-called “dark money” being poured into our elections. That starts with passing the DISCLOSE Act, which would require public disclosure of all spending in elections. Dean also supports the Honest Ads Act, which would apply the same disclosure standards to online ads that are applied to all other political ads and would help curb foreign influence in online political advertising.

Lower contribution and expenditure limits

Dean supports lowering contribution and spending limits, and he wants to enhance efforts to encourage greater participation from Americans contributing at lower dollar amounts. That way, candidates would have the ability to raise the resources they need from a broader base of people, rather than relying on a small number of wealthy donors.

Reduce the influence of outside spending

Dean supports the Get Foreign Money Out of Elections Act, which would close a campaign finance loophole that allows American-registered but foreign-owned and controlled corporations to funnel unlimited amounts of money into U.S. elections. And Dean signed the People’s Pledge to discourage spending by outside special interest groups.

Close the revolving door of money and influence

Dean will work to close the so-called “revolving door” that exists between members of Congress and individuals working in federal government who then cash in on their connections and influence by taking lucrative lobbying jobs. He also supports barring political appointees from lobbying for five years after serving in the Executive Branch.

Restore faith in our democracy and increase participation

Dean believes Election Day should be a national holiday to afford more Americans the opportunity to exercise their right and responsibility to vote. He also supports electoral reforms —  including requiring states to establish independent, multi-party citizen redistricting commissions, and expanding same-day voter registration nationwide.

Healthcare for All Americans

“I believe it’s time we make the moral decision to ensure every American has affordable, high-quality healthcare – no matter their age, geography or condition. I will support immediate action that gets us closer to that goal – and I will not rest until it’s achieved.”

– Dean Phillips

Dean’s Plan

Twenty-eight million Americans lack health insurance, and as many as 30,000 people die every year as a result. Millions more cannot afford the insurance they have and are one health crisis away from bankruptcy. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was an important step forward in providing critical protections for patients, but more needs to be done to bring down the cost of care. Here’s what Dean would do:

Fix and improve the Affordable Care Act

Dean supports bipartisan proposals to stabilize insurance markets established by the ACA and bring more competition to areas lacking insurance options. Andy Slavitt and former Senator Bill Frist, among others, have laid out a number of commonsense ideas for how to achieve this. Dean believes these proposals should be debated openly and brought to votes.

Expand Medicare as an option for all Americans

Dean supports the expansion of Medicare as a public option for all Americans — while preserving the protections established under the ACA. This way, more would benefit from the lower cost, higher quality care provided by Medicare — and those Americans with employer-provided care that works for them would maintain the freedom to keep it.

Reduce the cost of prescription drugs

Americans subsidize the entire world’s prescription drug prices, and Dean believes it’s time to require Medicare to negotiate on behalf of all Americans to achieve significantly lower costs. And he will crack down on drug companies that engage in predatory pricing schemes.

Reform the care delivery model

While the ACA represented an historic expansion of healthcare coverage, it didn’t do enough to reform the system and the cost-drivers that lead to higher healthcare costs for all Americans. Dean says often that we have a sick-care system, not a healthcare system, and we need to change the incentive structure to reward prevention over procedures. That’s why Dean will not support any plan that fails to include significant reforms that lower costs.

Fiscal Responsibility

“As a father and business owner who recognizes the threat our exploding national debt poses to future generations, I know we must manage our fiscal house more thoughtfully and fairly. I believe in efficient government and fiscally responsible tax policy that stimulates demand by accruing more resources to middle-income American families.”

– Dean Phillips

Dean’s Plan

Having built and managed both large and small businesses, Dean understands firsthand the challenge of balancing the books and the danger of spending more than you generate. Living off the national credit card and asking future generations to foot the bill is neither sound nor ethical policy, especially during periods of economic growth. Dean will advocate for common-sense approaches to strengthen our nation’s fiscal house, including making government more efficient, generating more value from our tax dollars, creating a more fair tax system and prioritizing spending based on return on investment. Here’s his plan:

Make government more efficient and reduce our national debt

The recently passed tax law burdens future generations with an additional $1.9 trillion of debt. If elected, Dean will advocate for reducing our deficit and debt by utilizing tax dollars more efficiently and generating more value from each dollar invested. Dean supports an orderly military withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan ($440 billion in savings over 10 years), negotiating prescription drug prices through Medicaid ($230 billion in savings over 10 years), objecting to Trump’s ineffective and unnecessary border wall (over $100 billion in savings over 10 years), and passing comprehensive immigration reform ($170 billion in savings over 10 years).

Ensure tax policy accrues more resources to middle-income Americans

Elements of the recently passed tax bill were positive, including the reduction in the corporate tax rate to make U.S. businesses more competitive and to repatriate overseas profits back to the U.S. While Dean does not support full repeal of the bill, he believes it’s bad policy when approximately 83% of the benefits flow to the top 1% of earners. And while cuts for those at the top are permanent, the cuts for the middle class expire. That’s why Dean supports making those tax cuts permanent and ending the special giveaways and sweetheart deals for wealthy special interests in the bill — and in the tax code.

Reconvene a National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility

While President Obama made an effort to restore fiscal responsibility through the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, the report produced by the Commission did not reach the required threshold to be sent to Congress, and most of its ideas fell by the wayside. Eight years later, and with the country deeper in debt, Dean supports reconvening a commission to explore opportunities for bipartisan reforms to reduce spending and use tax dollars more efficiently without harming working people or senior citizens.

Retirement Security

“Social Security is the most successful anti-poverty program in our nation’s history. Those in or near retirement have worked hard and paid into the system all their lives, and we must honor that promise by working in a bipartisan fashion to ensure the elements of a secure retirement are protected — including Medicare, Medicaid and support for caregivers.”

– Dean Phillips

Dean’s Plan

Millions of retirees count on Social Security and Medicare, and a majority of those who need nursing home care depend on Medicaid. Dean believes in protecting such earned benefits — not cutting or privatizing them. That’s why he will seek to strengthen these programs and ensure their solvency into the future. Here are his priorities:

Protect Social Security benefits

Retirees and those near retirement age have paid into the system and made plans based on a promised level of benefits. However, without any change in policy, Social Security will only be able to pay about 77% of its promised benefits by the year 2034. Dean will explore all fiscally responsible and fair proposals to preserve benefits for as many as possible, and advocate for a mechanism by which wealthier retirees may voluntarily redirect their benefits to lower-income retirees.

Strengthen Medicare by controlling rising healthcare costs

Medicare is a foundational source of healthcare for retirees, but ballooning costs are undermining many people’s ability to afford care. Cutting benefits is not the answer; working to control and reduce healthcare costs is the only way forward. That’s why Dean supports redesigning the care delivery model by rewarding prevention and health rather than procedures and hospitalizations. And Dean will fight hard to ensure that Medicare can negotiate prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies, which would save American taxpayers approximately $240 billion over 10 years.

Protect access to nursing home care through Medicaid

One of three people turning 65 will need nursing home care at some point in their lives. At an average annual cost of $82,000 for such care, 6 of 10 Americans in nursing homes depend on Medicaid to afford it. Proposals to block-grant federal Medicaid funding would limit the ability of states, including Minnesota, to provide for nursing home care. Medicaid is also the largest provider of mental health and opioid addiction care — another reason we must protect the program on which so many families and communities depend.

Support caregivers and expand options for seniors to live independently

Personal care attendants often earn low wages despite providing necessary care for many elderly and disabled Americans. And with tens of millions of Boomers in or nearing retirement, the need for quality, dependable caregivers will only increase. Dean supports ensuring caregivers are properly trained and compensated, and will support policies that provide options for seniors to live independently at home for as long as possible.

Gun-Violence Prevention

“Thoughts and tweets don’t save lives — courage and action save lives. And since Congress has refused to effect change to improve safety, I will do everything in my power to support students mobilizing to change Congress.”

– Dean Phillips

Dean’s Plan

We average nearly one mass shooting every single day in this country. In the face of 200 school shootings since Sandy Hook, Congress has done nothing to investigate why these incidents are happening, let alone anything meaningful to address them. Dean’s plan calls for doing both:

Pass universal background checks

Over 77% of Republicans and 90% of Democrats agree on the need to close the gun-show loophole and require background checks on all firearm purchases. Congress has done nothing to confront this issue out of fear of angering the gun lobby. Dean is not beholden to the gun lobby or any other special interests, and he will be a vocal advocate for such commonsense, bipartisan policy.

Reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban

In the 10-year period during which the Assault Weapons Ban was in place, gun massacres decreased dramatically — ​but​ they’ve increased dramatically ever since. Dean believes it’s time to reinstate this commonsense policy. Given that we don’t allow hand grenades, bazookas or machine guns on our streets, there is precedent for the same sort of reasonable approach to assault weapons that will save lives.

Fund CDC research into gun violence

Dean believes we must declare gun violence a national health and public safety crisis. He will work to provide the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the funding necessary to thoroughly investigate the causes of gun violence ​and offer potential solutions.

Support mental health and anti-bullying programs

Dean understands that our public schools lack the resources necessary to provide adequate numbers of mental health professionals and counselors who can help identify and treat children suffering from mental illness, and he will work to fix that. He also believes we need stronger anti-bullying measures — like Minnesota’s Safe and Supportive Schools Act — in all public schools.

Keep guns away from dangerous people

Finally, Dean supports commonsense measures to keep guns away from domestic abusers, violent criminals and suspected terrorists, including so-called ‘no fly no buy’ proposals.

Jobs and the Economy

“I’ve helped build and manage both small and large businesses in Minnesota, and I know that smart public policy is pro-business and pro-worker. That’s why I’m an advocate for policies that grow the economy by reducing red tape, investing in people and rewarding innovation.”

– Dean Phillips

Dean’s Plan

Dean is an entrepreneur and job-creator who understands the realities of running a business and making a payroll. From bussing tables and starting his own small business as a teenager to leading some of Minnesota’s most well-known companies, Dean’s family taught him the value of hard work and that success is to be measured not by how much one collects, rather by how much is shared with the people and communities that make that success possible. Those lessons and his real-world business experience shape Dean’s views on public policy. Here’s Dean’s Plan:

Make healthcare more affordable and accessible

The rising cost of healthcare and health insurance is the top challenge facing people and employers of all sizes, but particularly small businesses. Dean is committed to making healthcare affordable and accessible to all Americans by redesigning the healthcare-delivery model and increasing coverage options for businesses and their employees. Read more here.

Solidify Minnesota as an innovation hub

Minnesota is a leader in cutting-edge technological innovations in clean energy, healthcare, agriculture, and IT. Dean will build on that long history as an innovation hub by advocating for federal investment in Minnesota, expanding access to start-up capital, creating targeted tax incentives for innovation, and investing in programs like the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer and in research, such as through the National Institutes of Health.

Incentivize employee ownership of more businesses

In the 1940’s, Dean’s great-grandfather instituted one of the country’s first documented employee profit-sharing plans, and many Minnesota businesses followed suit. Dean knows that when employees share in ownership — and success — it’s good for everyone. That’s why he will promote incentives to expand employee profit-sharing plans and employee stock-ownership plans (ESOPs) to more American businesses.

Educate Minnesotans for the jobs of today…and tomorrow

Over two-thirds of 21st-century jobs will require education beyond high school, but not every student needs a four-year degree to earn a good living. That’s why Dean will work to ensure that all types of education and training after high school — including college, apprenticeships and work-based learning — are affordable and accessible to Minnesotans of all ages. Read more here.

Promote a comprehensive approach to economic security

No one who works hard for a living should live in poverty in our country. Wages are an important part of that equation, but affordable healthcare, child and family care, affordable housing, transportation and a secure retirement are key components of economic security. As a pragmatic problem-solver, Dean will advocate for common sense policies in all those areas, so that businesses can afford to pay livable wages and workers can adequately provide for themselves and their families.

Expand markets for businesses through fair trade agreements

As someone who’s done business all over the world, Dean knows how important well-negotiated trade deals are for American businesses. Businesses and economies expand when middle-income families have more money to spend, and when American products and services can access overseas markets. While Dean supports renegotiating sections of existing trade deals to make them more fair to American businesses, Dean opposes the current Administration’s dangerous and arbitrary tariffs and escalating trade war, and he will ensure that Congress plays its constitutional role as a check on the Executive Branch.

Immigration Reform

“My family came to this country for the same reasons as many others: for opportunity and a place of refuge from persecution. That’s the America that I know and love: a compassionate America that values and welcomes hard-working people who come here with big dreams and a simple wish for safety and opportunity. This is not a Republican or a Democratic issue. It is a human issue — and an economic issue — and we must do better.”

– Dean Phillips

Dean’s Plan

Both parties have failed to solve glaring problems with our immigration system, and too many politicians are using the issue to divide — rather than unite. Dean believes we need bipartisan, comprehensive and fair reforms to address our immigration challenges, which will help reduce the deficit and support businesses. In the near term, Dean supports extending DACA protections and passing the DREAM Act, without strings attached, to protect young people who were brought here as children. Here’s what he will work to do:

Secure our borders with effective approaches

We need to stop criminals, gangs and terrorists from crossing our borders, but 21st-century threats require 21st-century technology — not an ineffective border wall that will add over $100 billion to our deficit by 2028. Dean supports giving law enforcement the technologies, tools and resources they need to combat illegal border crossings, such as surveillance cameras, drones and underground sensors, so we can prevent anyone who poses a threat to our country from crossing at all.

Create fair pathways to earned, legal citizenship

Unlike politicians who use immigration to scare, divide and score political points, Dean will advocate for bipartisan immigration reform that secures our borders and provides an earned pathway to citizenship for otherwise law-abiding, undocumented immigrants who work hard and pay taxes. Comprehensive reform should include streamlining the naturalization system so those who work to enter the U.S. legally don’t have to wait decades for citizenship.

Ensure businesses have access to skilled workers when there’s a shortage

People come from all over the world for education and training at American universities. Upon graduation, many then return to their home countries only to compete against American business and economic interests. As a part of comprehensive immigration reform, Dean supports making it easier to keep highly skilled people in the U.S. so that businesses have access to specialized workers, particularly for jobs for which there aren’t enough Americans with the needed skills to fill open positions.

Prosecute and deport violent criminals

Dean believes that anyone who commits a serious or violent crime should be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, without exception, and undocumented immigrants should be deported after serving their time. Local law enforcement should be focused on stopping the real threats to public safety — violent crime, gangs and terrorists — rather than enforcing federal immigration law.

Combating Climate Change

“We didn’t leave the Stone Age because we ran out of rocks; rather, we developed better ways of doing things. In the 21st century, it’s time to accelerate our transition to a clean-energy economy, reduce our carbon footprint, and preserve our planet for future generations.”

– Dean Phillips

Dean’s Plan

As someone who drives an electric car and uses a geothermal system to heat and cool his home, Dean walks the talk. His plan creates incentives for more individuals and more businesses to do the same, and to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels:

Market-based solutions to reduce carbon emissions

While many U.S. states, multinational corporations, and other countries have already put a price on carbon emissions and set reduction goals, our federal government has yet to act. Monetizing greenhouse gas emissions allows the free market to figure out the best solutions to addressing the threat posed by global climate change. Dean supports an approach like the Carbon Fee and Dividend Plan advocated by the Climate Leadership Council, which is revenue-neutral and will benefit every American.

Incentives to expand clean energy production

Dean will work to promote renewable energy from wind, solar and infrastructure investments to develop a clean and reliable electrical grid. He also supports extending the 30% federal tax credit for solar and other renewable energy, which would otherwise decrease after 2019 and disappear altogether after 2021 — building on Minnesota’s nation-leading work.

A renewed focus on energy efficiency

Dean knows we need to put more serious efforts behind energy efficiency, which is the most cost-effective and affordable way to reduce fossil-fuel consumption. Coupled with the extension of expired federal tax credits for energy efficiency upgrades, Dean supports adopting recommendations by the American Council for an Energy Efficiency Economy that will save Americans billions of dollars in lower energy bills, create domestic jobs, improve health by reducing pollution, and make homes and businesses more livable.

Increased investments in resiliency

Recognizing that the consequences of climate change are already upon us, Dean knows we also need to build resiliency into our infrastructure. In particular, he believes buildings should be designed to integrate energy storage and achieve “passive survivability” — to maintain habitable conditions if power is lost for an extended period of time. This is a life-safety issue, and passive survivability should be written into building codes.

Supporting Our Veterans

“As a Gold Star Son, I know all too well the sacrifices made by our veterans and their families. I’m on a mission to ensure we take care of those who risk their lives in service to our country – and that we don’t forget about the families they leave behind.”

– Dean Phillips

Dean’s Plan

Americans strongly believe we must support those who have served our nation and defended our liberty. Veterans and their families must be a priority when they’re sent into harm’s way; and they must remain a priority when they come home. Here’s what Dean would focus on:

Health Care

The VA must have the resources necessary to meet the increasing needs of veterans and enable it to serve effectively as the medical home of every veteran in its care. Community care and related private sector programs must supplement and coordinate with VA services, not replace them. Private sector services must not result in gaps, delays, or defunding of essential VA care.

Mental Health, TBI and PTSD

A significant percentage of veterans, especially those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, suffer from major depression, PTSD, or TBI. The VA must have sufficient resources for veteran outreach to identify those who need help and to perform the essential research that enables prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment. VA resources should be coordinated with innovative private sector services (e.g., telehealth) when appropriate.

Homelessness

The VA estimates that 40,000 veterans were homeless in 2016. No veteran should be without a place to call home. The VA should fully fund existing homelessness programs and expand coordinated efforts in local communities to identify veterans at risk and to help provide solutions to their housing challenges.

Administrative Simplicity

Many veterans struggle to understand and navigate the VA system to apply for and receive the benefits to which they are entitled. The VA should place a priority on simplifying and streamlining the eligibility, benefits, and related administrative processes.

Education Benefits

America built its middle class post-WWII in large part with a generous and effective GI Bill. Those education benefits have eroded in the ensuing years, presenting less opportunity to today’s veterans. America owes opportunity to those who have served honorably and must provide sufficient education benefits that enable our returning veterans to reintegrate into civilian life and continue to make contributions to American society.

Higher Education and Job Training

“Today more than ever, getting a good job depends on obtaining necessary skills and training after high school. Every Minnesotan should have the opportunity to earn an affordable college degree, apprenticeship, or job-training certificate that prepares them for jobs of the future. This isn’t just good for individuals, it’s good for businesses, it’s good for our communities — and it helps grow Minnesota’s economy.”

– Dean Phillips

Dean’s Plan

Minnesota’s renowned public education system and varied post-secondary options make our state an ideal place to earn a living, raise a family and start a business. It’s time we build on that legacy by enhancing our system of higher education and training for the jobs of the future. We need to educate and train more Minnesotans in the skills our businesses are demanding, and we need to make higher education more affordable and efficient. Here’s Dean’s plan:

Ensure a range of high-quality education options after high school

Almost two-thirds of new jobs will require some education and training after high school, but a traditional four-year college degree is not necessary for everyone. Many “new collar” jobs pay well and don’t require a BA, and increasingly, many Americans will require continuing education throughout their working lives. That’s why Dean supports federal pilot funding for innovative ideas like apprenticeships, three-year degrees that combine high school and college, competency-based education, and “last mile” training so that states and localities can explore options that are best for their communities.

Make college more affordable for more families

For those seeking four-year degrees, Dean supports expanding federal student aid (including student loans and Pell Grants, which have not kept up with inflation) and allowing refinancing of existing debt at lower interest rates. It’s unfair that college debt is generally subject to higher interest rates than automobile and other consumer loans. He is also an advocate for loan-forgiveness programs for those entering high-impact but low-paying fields.

Help students and families make informed choices

Our federal student-aid system is needlessly complex. Education and training after high school are one of the best investments an individual and family can make — if they choose the right course of study and program. Many 21st-century jobs did not exist a few years ago, and others — like manufacturing jobs — are radically different than in years past. Dean will work to make career and financial-aid counseling available to Minnesotans of all ages, starting in middle school, to help all of us find and pursue the best education and career path.

Ensure higher education teaches in-demand knowledge and skills

Obtaining higher education and training after high school is costly — in time and dollars. Dean will support policies that foster partnerships between higher-education institutions and employers to create smooth pathways to good first jobs in growing sectors of our economy. And he will explore the possibility of giving schools and other training providers more “skin in the game” by tying a portion of their federal funding to their students’ employment outcomes.

A World-Class Public Education

“We must ensure that every American child receives a world-class public education — no matter their zip code. I’ve spent the majority of my adult life working to create more opportunity for students, and I will make that a top priority as a member of Congress.”

– Dean Phillips

Dean’s Plan

Dean believes a world-class public education system is the foundation of the American promise. But with dramatic achievement gaps and declining resources, too many schools are struggling, too many teachers are overly burdened, and too many students are left behind. Here’s Dean’s plan:

Fully fund federal education mandates

Increasing funding for federal mandates will be among Dean’s top priorities when it comes to education. He supports the IDEA Full Funding Act, which would fully fund the federal government’s portion of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act over a 10-year period. This would ease the financial burden on sch