The only Democrat to announce plans to run against Joe Biden for the 2024 presidential nomination has hired a former Minneapolis lawmaker who backed a movement to abolish the city’s police force.
Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips announced on October 26 that he would challenge the current president in the Democratic primary.
The 54-year-old, one of the wealthiest members of Congress, has enlisted the help of a former Minneapolis city council member who backed calls to dismantle the city’s police force following the June 2020 killing of George Floyd.
Alondra Cano, 42, said that “the Legislature’s police force is not reformable” but is now part of Phillips’ presidential campaign despite having opposed the “defund the police” movement.
Leading Democrats have been critical of his ambitious bid to run against Biden for the 2024 presidential nomination.
Democrat Dean Phillips, who has announced plans to run against Joe Biden for the 2024 presidential nomination, has hired a former Minneapolis lawmaker who backed a movement to abolish the city’s police force
Alondra Cano, 42, said ‘parliament police are not reformable’ but is now part of Phillips’ presidential campaign despite having opposed the ‘defund the police’ movement
The former Minneapolis city council member supported calls to dismantle the city’s police force following the killing of George Floyd in June 2020. Pictured: Minneapolis riots, May 2020
Phillips is making a bet on the 2024 presidential nomination and hopes to offer the Democratic party a younger, more energetic alternative.
He has decided to include Cano in his campaign even though he has opposing views on law enforcement issues.
She was the first Latina elected to the Minneapolis City Council and in the days following Floyd’s death in the city, the politician took to social media to express her views.
Cano reported from an official account that “a veto-proof majority of the MPLS City Council just publicly agreed that the Minneapolis Police Department is unreformable and that we are going to end the current police system.”
However, a ballot question about replacing the city’s police department with a public safety department failed to pass during a citywide vote in 2021.
This led to division among Democrats in Minnesota. Cano announced in December 2020 that she would not seek re-election for her council seat.
Phillips has emphasized his support for police during his time in Congress and has called for help with law enforcement recruitment.
In his last two congressional races, he was endorsed by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, which represents many officers in the state.
“Dean’s leadership strategy is clear from his announcement: his goal is to build a diverse team with all voices at the tables,” his campaign team said in a statement.
Cano was the first Latina elected to the Minneapolis City Council, and in the days following Floyd’s death in the city, the politician took to social media to express her views.
Posting from an official account, she said that “a veto-proof majority of the MPLS City Council just publicly agreed that the Minneapolis Police Department is unreformable and that we are going to end the current police system.”
“And just like our campaign, which allows a wide range of opinions to generate the best ideas for our country’s future, Dean is committed to bringing diversity of voice and thought to the White House.”
In response to concerns about Cano and her views on policing, his campaign added that “the Congresswoman’s record on this issue has been clear.”
“He supports the vast majority of law enforcement professionals who do difficult and dangerous work to protect the people of this country,” the statement said.
“He has also made clear that we need reforms that will end the disproportionate killings of people of color, especially Black Americans, during encounters with law enforcement.”
Floyd was killed during an arrest by white officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020.
Footage of the incident showed Chauvin kneeling on his neck for several minutes, sparking protests in the U.S. and around the world over police brutality and racism in law enforcement.
Chauvin was convicted of Floyd’s murder and is serving a 21-year sentence in a federal prison in Arizona.
Biden’s campaign, as well as his supporters, allies and surrogates, have been quick to point out that Rep. Phillips has voted with Biden most of the time and note that they are unable to identify what he offers that is different from the president.
But critics argue that the aspect of age and physical and mental fitness alone could be enough to give him a little boost.
“We have a responsibility to look closely at these numbers, listen to what the American people are trying to tell us, and act accordingly,” Phillips said of a recent poll between Biden and Trump.
The polling, while not extensive since Phillips announced in late October, has so far not shown him any chance of upset against Biden.
In fact, he doesn’t seem able to even outpace fellow Democratic nominee Marianne Williamson.
A Morning Consult poll released last week shows a whopping 69 percent gap between Biden and Phillips, with 73 percent saying they will vote for the current president and just four percent defecting.
Williamson also earned four percent in the same poll.
DailyMail.com has contacted Phillips and Cano for comment.