House Speaker Johnson launches fundraising hub to grow GOP House majority after Trump Super Tuesday victories
FIRST ON FOX: House Speaker Mike Johnson launched a fundraising hub in an effort to grow the Republicans’ majority in the House of Representatives in 2024 following former President Trump’s near-sweep of critical Super Tuesday primary contests. The Trump victories prompted former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to suspend her presidential campaign Wednesday morning. In a video first obtained by Fox News Digital on Wednesday afternoon, the House speaker congratulated Trump and declared the former president the GOP nominee. SPEAKER JOHNSON TALKS 2024 WITH TRUMP AT MAR-A-LAGO AS HALEY VOWS TO STAY IN GOP PRIMARY “Congratulations to President Donald Trump on now winning primary victories across our country!” Johnson, R-La., said in a statement. “President Trump is our nominee and the American people are ready to return to secure borders, economic prosperity, and peace through strength we experienced under his leadership.” Johnson said he looks forward “to working together to retake the White House and grow our majority in Congress.” “When we grow this majority and when President Trump is returned to the White House – I’m convinced all those things are going to happen – we’re going to do a 180-degree turn,” Johnson said. Johnson introduced a new website, growthemajority.com, which details “three reasons why the 2024 election is critical.” “1. The GOP House majority is one of the smallest majorities in American history,” the website states. “We only have a razor-thin advantage over Democrats. That means we have to defend EVERY seat we have and gain more to be in a position to reverse the chaos caused by the Biden administration.” TRUMP INVITES NIKKI HALEY SUPPORTERS TO JOIN MAGA MOVEMENT, CELEBRATES SUPER TUESDAY VICTORIES Next, the website states that if Republicans “don’t win in 2024, open borders, amnesty, and voting rights for millions of illegal immigrants will be a top priority for Democrats.” And the third point on the website said: “If the Democrats have their way, 2024 may be the last chance to win a majority in both legislative chambers for DECADES.” “The battle to defend and expand our House majority begins right here, right now,” the website states, asking voters to donate. “We can’t afford to lose this time around.” The website requests visitors donate “$20.24” in an effort to “expand the majority in 2024.” It also gives other more traditional donation amounts, and an “other” section. TRUMP REACTS TO SUPER TUESDAY VICTORIES: ‘RARELY HAS POLITICS SEEN ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS’ The website launch comes after Johnson spent Presidents Day last month with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. The two discussed the 2024 election cycle. “Speaker Johnson met with President Trump in Florida on Monday to discuss growing the majority and securing Republican victories up and down the ballot in November,” Johnson campaign spokesman Greg Steele told Fox News Digital on Feb. 20. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub. Attending the meeting with Johnson was Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the House GOP’s campaign arm. They were in Florida for the House GOP leadership’s annual retreat. House Republican leaders have made an unprecedented show of unity around Trump as he seeks the GOP nomination for president. Johnson endorsed Trump for president in November last year, days after he won the speaker’s gavel. Fox News Digital’s Liz Elkind contributed to this report.
Democratic Illinois ‘super mayor’ vetoes attempt to probe her lavish spending
Democratic Mayor Tiffany Henyard of the small Village of Dolton, Illinois, vetoed a resolution on Monday by a local board calling for an external probe to be launched into her alleged misuse of funds. The self-described “super mayor,” who has gained national attention for being accused of spending taxpayer money on luxurious trips and weaponizing police in retaliatory business raids, slammed last month’s vote by the Dolton, Illinois, village board as being illegal and driven by personal attacks from a “boys club.” She vowed to “fight back” against the alleged smear campaign against her in which she has been accused of traveling on first-class flights to Las Vegas, spending hefty amounts at beauty vendors and splashing over $1 million on a police detail despite the small village having a population of around 23,000 people. The resolution she vetoed also called for her to submit the village’s financial records. CONTROVERSIAL DEMOCRAT MAYOR UNDER INVESTIGATION AFTER WILD TIRADES, POLICE RAIDS, LAVISH SPENDING “As you can see, our village, our community, myself, we are under attack,” Henyard said at the village board meeting on Monday. “It’s a shame that people can come to meetings and just tell one side of the stories and not get the entire side of both stories.” She claimed that the village board was “a boys club” that doesn’t want women like her leading. “I’m going to always fight for what’s right, and I always stay the course. And I will be victorious when all the dust clears,” she added. Henyard said she is launching a podcast on Friday that will explain all the town’s finances. “It will be all facts, receipts,” she said, according to the Chicago Tribune. Dolton Trustees slammed the mayor at last month’s vote for having “disgraced this entire village” and being a “stain on our community.” They vowed to override her veto during next month’s meeting. CONTROVERSIAL MAYOR POSTS VIDEO WITH BIDEN JUST DAYS AFTER RIPPING COLLEAGUES FOR ‘ATTACKING ON A BLACK WOMAN’ During the village board meeting, it was revealed that Dalton owes more than $427,000 for street paving and another $400,000 for tree-trimming services, local WGN 9 reports. WGN 9 reported last month that a bank threatened to repossess more than a dozen village vehicles – including police cars – because lease payments were missed. After the report was published, the village sent a check to pay the bills. “The mayor can blame everybody for what’s going on, but she has to look at herself,” former trustee Edward Steave said during Monday’s meeting. Resident Vivian Allen called for Henyard to step down to save Dolton’s finances. “You lied to us as residents. You do not, you do not stand for me,” Allen said. “And I want you to step down as mayor today and save our village from this deficit you have caused.” Despite the veto, FOX 32 has confirmed that the FBI is questioning people in relation to Henyard’s activities. Six individuals have reportedly spoken to the agency about her alleged misconduct, including business owners, a former village employee and one or more public officials. For instance, according to FOX 32, a Dolton-based U-Haul rental and trucking business owner named Lawrence Gardner said he went to the FBI out of frustration that the Village of Dolton would not renew his business license. He claims he has suffered from harassment, a raid on his business and being shut down by Dolton police. Gardner believes it is retaliation after he refused to donate to a civic event sponsored by Henyard. A public relations firm responding on behalf of Henyard told FOX 32 late last month that she had not been contacted by the FBI so far. The FBI previously told Fox News Digital it does not comment on the nature, existence or nonexistence of any investigation that may be occurring. Fox News Digital previously reported that Henyard has been living like a royal with a combined salary of nearly $300,000 – more than the state’s governor – and frequent use of beauty vendors, despite the residents of the Illinois town having a median income of $24,000. Henyard has also come under fire for various tirades in public meetings, accusing her critics among local leaders of “beating and attacking on a Black woman that’s in power.” She makes $285,000 from her positions both as Dolton mayor and Thornton township supervisor. Henyard reportedly has a $224,000 a year salary as township supervisor alone, but has put forth an ordinance to cut the salary of any non-incumbent supervisor to $25,000. Municipal attorney Burt Odelson, said to represent Henyard’s political opposition, condemned this as “so illegal in so many ways,” telling FOX 32 such conduct “violates so many tenets of the law.” Henyard has insisted God “chose” her and she met with President Biden in January. Fox News’ Alexander Hall, Alexa Moutevelis and Hannah Grossman contributed to this report.
Supreme Court to hear arguments in Trump presidential immunity case on April 25
The Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether former President Trump is immune from prosecution in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s election interference case on April 25. The Supreme Court last week agreed it would review whether Trump has immunity from prosecution in Smith’s case and said it would fast-track the appeal. SUPREME COURT AGREES TO REVIEW WHETHER TRUMP IMMUNE FROM PROSECUTION IN FEDERAL ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASE A ruling from the high court is expected by late June. Trump’s criminal trial has been put on hold pending resolution on the matter. Trump and his legal team, in requesting the Supreme Court review the issue of presidential immunity, said that “if the prosecution of a President is upheld, such prosecutions will recur and become increasingly common, ushering in destructive cycles of recrimination.” “Criminal prosecution, with its greater stigma and more severe penalties, imposes a far greater ‘personal vulnerability’ on the President than any civil penalty,” the request states. “The threat of future criminal prosecution by a politically opposed Administration will overshadow every future President’s official acts — especially the most politically controversial decisions.” Trump’s request states that the president’s “political opponents will seek to influence and control his or her decisions via effective extortion or blackmail with the threat, explicit or implicit, of indictment by a future, hostile Administration, for acts that do not warrant any such prosecution.” Smith charged the former president with conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights. Those charges stemmed from Smith’s investigation into whether Trump was involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and any alleged interference in the 2020 election result. TRUMP SAYS SUPREME COURT RULING IN COLORADO CASE IS ‘UNIFYING AND INSPIRATIONAL’ Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges in August. This will be the second time this term the Supreme Court will hear a case involving the presumed Republican presidential nominee. On Monday, the Supreme Court sided unanimously with the 2024 GOP frontrunner in his challenge to Colorado’s attempt to kick him off the 2024 primary ballot. The high court ruled in favor of Trump’s arguments in the case, which will impact the status of efforts in several other states to remove the likely GOP nominee from their respective ballots. The court considered for the first time the meaning and reach of Article 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars former officeholders who “engaged in insurrection” from holding public office again. Challenges have been filed to remove Trump from the 2024 ballot in over 30 states. TRUMP SPEAKS AFTER SUPREME COURT RULING, TELLS BIDEN TO ‘FIGHT YOUR FIGHT YOURSELF’ In reacting to that ruling on Monday, Trump shifted his sights to the issue of presidential immunity. “A great win for America. Very, very important!” Trump told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview Monday morning. “Equally important for our country will be the decision that they will soon make on immunity for a president — without which, the presidency would be relegated to nothing more than a ceremonial position, which is far from what the founders intended,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “No president would be able to properly and effectively function without complete and total immunity.” He added, “Our country would be put at great risk.” Fox News’ Shannon Bream and Bill Mears contributed to this report.
Blue state legislature passes parents’ bill of rights, critic calls it a ‘right-wing hot air’ balloon
A parents’ bill of rights will soon become law in Washington state after the legislature green lit three citizen initiatives a controversial group sent their way. But some progressives believe the legislature strategically approved inconsequential laws to preserve political energy for fighting the remaining initiatives they feel present a greater threat. Initiative 2081 is designed to bolster parental involvement in education by allowing parents of public school students to review instructional materials like textbooks and curricula upon request, easily access their child’s medical and academic records and opt their child out of assignments or instruction having to do with sexuality. CRISIS IN THE NORTHWEST: INSIDE ONE OF OREGON’S LARGEST HOMELESS CAMPS WITH A FORMER DRUG DEALER The initiative, sponsored by the group Let’s Go Washington, overwhelmingly passed both chambers in the final days of the legislative session. The other two passed this week rolled back some restrictions on police chases and codified Washington’s status as an income tax-free state. They take effect June 5 and don’t require Gov. Jay Inslee’s signature. LGW founder Brian Heywood told Fox News in a statement that, six months ago, such a victory was “unthinkable to radical progressives.” “They were quick to categorize all of the initiatives as ‘right-wing extremist’ policies that didn’t have a chance of passing,” he wrote. “Washingtonians who signed the initiatives knew they were common sense measures.” LGW secured more than the 324,000 signatures required to send each of the proposals to the legislature for consideration. Lawmakers had the option to either pass them right away or take no action and let the initiatives go before voters in the next election. The remaining three initiatives — which legislative leaders said they won’t act on — would repeal the state’s capital gains tax, allow employees to opt out of a long-term care insurance program and repeal the state’s new cap and trade program, which critics say raised Washington’s gas prices by about 45 cents per gallon. DRUG RECRIMINALIZATION COULD SIGNAL CULTURAL SHIFT IN PROGRESSIVE STATE, PORTLAND TRIAL ATTORNEY SAYS One of the groups that most vocally opposed LGW now says the legislature was being strategic when it passed the first three initiatives, which are “basically just right-wing hot air balloons meant to inflame the Republican base and troll Democrats.” “By keeping these deceptive measures off the ballot, the Legislature is setting us up to win on the serious threats, and making sure voters reject the three initiatives that would devastate funding for our kids and schools, dismantle our protections against air and water pollution, and repeal efforts to care for our seniors,” Fuse Washington Executive Director Aaron Ostrom wrote in an email to Fox News. Democratic House and Senate leaders’ own statements support Ostrom’s theory. ‘SNITCH LINE’ WAS SET UP TO INTIMIDATE GROUP TRYING TO CHANGE LEFT-WING LAWS, SAYS MOVEMENT LEADER Roughly 90% of the parental rights initiative is already law, they wrote in a Seattle Times op-ed. And while some constituents raised concerns in public testimony that the law might target LGBTQ+ youth, Democrats ultimately decided the initiative does not change existing protections for such groups. “We stand prepared to change the law should it put any member of the LGBTQ+ community at risk or threaten in any way a young person’s right to protected health care,” House Speaker Rep. Laurie Jinkins and Sen. Jamie Pedersen wrote (emphasis theirs). Lawmakers have also taken steps to safeguard “LGBQ+ representation” this session, they wrote. One bill bans schools from banning books about protected groups. Another makes it more difficult to close libraries, after the presence of controversial books sparked an ultimately unsuccessful community effort to shutter a rural Washington library last year. Jinkins and Pedersen wrote that the other three initiatives “would cause devastating and deeply felt cuts.” Those will go on the November ballot. “The only reason radical progressives did not approve all six common sense initiatives is because of government greed,” Heywood wrote. “Backroom deals with union bosses and progressive special interests outweigh real tax relief for working class Washingtonians.” LGW ran a robust signature gathering campaign for the six initiatives last year, drawing fierce opposition in the Democrat-controlled state. The mayor of Yakima called 911 to report “far right-wing petitioners at Walmart” she believed were harassing shoppers. Former Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna accused several groups of a “coordinated intimidation campaign” against LGW signature gatherers, which included the creation of a hotline for reporting their locations.
Comer invites Hunter Biden, business associates to testify publicly March 20 amid impeachment inquiry
FIRST ON FOX: House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer is inviting Hunter Biden and his business associates to testify at a public hearing later this month as part of the ongoing impeachment inquiry against President Biden. Comer, R-Ky., invited Hunter Biden, Tony Bobulinski, Devon Archer and Jason Galanis to testify at a public hearing on March 20 at 10 a.m. All four individuals have testified behind closed doors as part of the impeachment inquiry, but Comer said the hearing will “examine inconsistencies among the witnesses’ testimonies in order to get the truth for the American people.” HUNTER BIDEN ADMITS HE PUT HIS FATHER ON SPEAKERPHONE, INVITED HIM TO MEETINGS, BUT DENIES ‘INVOLVEMENT’ “Evidence obtained in the House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry reveals Joe Biden knew about, participated in, and benefited from his family cashing in on the Biden name,” Comer said in a statement Wednesday. “Multiple witnesses have testified Joe Biden allowed his family to sell him as ‘the brand’ around the world to enrich the Biden family. Joe Biden met with nearly all of his son’s foreign business associates; attended dinners with foreign oligarchs who collectively funneled his son millions of dollars; spoke on speakerphone with his son’s foreign associates, telling those who did business with his son to be ‘good to my boy’; and had coffee with his son’s Chinese business associate.” Comer said the Bidens’ “pay-to-play scheme is corrupt and Americans demand accountability.” “During our deposition and interview phase of the investigation, Hunter Biden confirmed evidence about Joe Biden’s involvement, yet his testimony conflicts with other witnesses’ testimonies,” Comer continued. “Given the (president’s) son’s repeated calls for a public hearing, I fully expect Hunter Biden to appear for a scheduled Oversight Committee hearing on March 20, alongside Biden family business associates. JOE BIDEN ALLEGEDLY CONSIDERED JOINING BOARD OF CCP-LINKED COMPANY, WITNESS TESTIFIES FROM PRISON “The American people deserve the facts about the Biden family’s corrupt influence peddling and Oversight Republicans will work to ensure accountability and press for answers to inform legislative solutions to prevent this abuse of power.” Hunter Biden appeared for a highly anticipated deposition last week before both the House Oversight and Judiciary committees and maintained that his father was never involved in and never benefited from his businesses. The committee also heard testimony from James Biden, the president’s younger brother, who testified the same. JOE BIDEN ‘ENABLED’ FAMILY TO SELL ACCESS TO ‘DANGEROUS ADVERSARIES,’ TONY BOBULINSKI TESTIFIES Hunter Biden did admit, however, that he put his father on speakerphone with his business associates and invited him to drop by his business lunches. Archer testified before the House Oversight Committee last year that Hunter Biden put his father on speakerphone at least 20 times with business associates. And Bobulinski testified he personally met with Joe Biden in 2017 for more than 45 minutes. He also testified that Joe Biden “enabled” his son Hunter to sell access to the U.S.’ “most dangerous adversaries,” including the Chinese Communist Party, Russia and more. DEVON ARCHER: HUNTER BIDEN, BURISMA EXECS ‘CALLED DC’ TO GET UKRAINIAN PROSECUTOR FIRED Meanwhile, Galanis, who is serving a 14-year sentence, testified from prison that Joe Biden was allegedly considering joining the board of a joint venture created by Hunter Biden and his business associates with ties to the Chinese Communist Party after he left the vice presidency. Galanis also said that the words “lean in” were “used often by Devon and Hunter in our business dealings as a term for access to Vice President Biden’s political influence.”
Democratic State Rep. Julie Johnson wins congressional race for North Texas seat
Johnson narrowly avoided a runoff to replace U.S. Rep. Colin Allred. Brian Williams, who was in second place, has conceded.
Sen. Joni Ernst becomes final member of Senate GOP leadership to endorse Trump
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, endorsed former President Donald Trump to be the Republican presidential nominee on Wednesday, becoming the final member of the Senate GOP leadership conference to do so. “We must beat Joe Biden and get this country back on track,” Ernst wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday. “Donald Trump has my support.” Ernst’s endorsement comes a day after Trump swept nearly 1,000 Super Tuesday delegations, inching closer to securing his spot as the GOP presidential front runner in November. Trump’s only primary opponent, Nikki Haley, suspended her presidential campaign on Wednesday morning. Last month, Ernst criticized Trump’s use of the word “hostages” to describe his supporters who were arrested for their involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Host Kristen Welker asked Ernst if she was bothered by Trump’s description of the Jan. 6 prisoners. MCCONNELL ENDORSES TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT AFTER SUPER TUESDAY RESULTS: ‘HE WILL HAVE MY SUPPORT’ “It does in this context because we do have American hostages that are being held against their will all around the globe, and especially if you look at the innocents that were attacked and kidnapped on Oct. 7,” Ernst responded. “We are approaching nearly 100 days. These are people that have been taken. They’re held in tunnels with terrorists, they are being tortured, they have been raped, they have been denied medication. So, equating the two, there is no comparison.” Ernst later said in the interview she would not be opposed to pardoning those who were involved on Jan. 6 and that it would be at the president’s discretion. Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who has refused to comment over the last few months on whether he would endorse the former president, also endorsed Trump on Wednesday. “It is abundantly clear that former President Trump has earned the requisite support of Republican voters to be our nominee for President of the United States. It should come as no surprise that as nominee, he will have my support,” McConnell said in a statement. He continued: “During his Presidency, we worked together to accomplish great things for the American people including tax reform that supercharged our economy and a generational change of our federal judiciary, most importantly, the Supreme Court.” More GOP lawmakers in both chambers are rallying behind former President Donald Trump. Over 100 House Republicans and over two dozen Senate Republicans have endorsed the former president. Fox News’ Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.
GOP rep sounds alarm on growing Chinese influence in Central and South America
EXCLUSIVE: A top Republican congressman is sounding the alarm over the growing Chinese influence in Central America, warning that it could soon pose a threat to the U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., spoke to Fox News Digital after a congressional delegation to the region, where lawmakers visited Panama, Colombia and Peru. In addition to concerns related to migration through the region to the U.S., he warned of Chinese control of the Panama Canal – a key waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. “The ports on both sides of the Panama Canal are actually controlled by Chinese companies, which means that they are controlled by the [Chinese Communist Party]. So on the Pacific side and on the Atlantic side, those ports are actually controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and China,” Gimenez said. CHINESE HACKERS PREPARING TO ‘WREAK HAVOC’ ON AMERICAN CITIZENS, COMMUNITIES, FBI DIRECTOR WARNS The delegation also visited Peru, where Gimenez said President Xi Jinping will soon inaugurate a new port in the north of Lima, which was built and will be operated by the Chinese. There may soon be a new port south of Lima, and that could end up being built by the Chinese. Gimenez also emphasized that soon, Peru is going to become the largest producer of copper. Additionally, lithium deposits have also been found in the country. NEW GROUP LAUNCHES TO COMBAT CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY INFLUENCE ACROSS US “And they were quite frank that the majority of the copper and the lithium that they produce is actually being shipped to China for processing. And so the natural resources of our hemisphere are going across the Pacific, for the Chinese to take advantage of and then sell around the world,” he said. Officials have been issuing increasing warnings about the threat of China, a key U.S. geopolitical foe. FBI Director Christopher Wray recently warned lawmakers that Chinese hackers are preparing to “wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities.” Last year, Americans saw a Chinese weather balloon drift across parts of Alaska and western Canada before being shot down. Fox News has also reported on Beijing securing a potential deal to build a new spy base in Cuba. Gimenez said the Chinese have leverage in Lima as they control two of the main electric companies, allowing them to use electricity as a bargaining chip. He also warned about growing Chinese involvement in Colombia, where there is a left-wing president in power. As a result, Chinese influence risks eclipsing that of the U.S. in that country. “We are no longer the number one trading partner of a number of these countries,” said Gimenez. “They are buying influence either by directly buying influence or politicians. They could affect our trade with our South American partners. They could provide bases of operation for the Chinese and there are already some space bases down in Latin America.” He also raised concerns about Chinese influence related to social media and 5G set up by Chinese companies like Huawei. Separately, Gimenez talked about the migration pathway through the Darien Gap, through which hundreds of thousands of migrants have traveled – many on their way to the U.S. He warned that migrants are being pulled north through the dangerous territory with the aid of criminal organizations that control the area, in the hope of being released into the U.S. “It’s an unbelievably dangerous path and dangerous not only from the hazards of the travel itself, but also the people that you’re going to run into on the way,” Gimenez said. “So, if they didn’t have the expectation of getting into the United States or staying in the United States, many of them will probably not try to make the journey.”
Rep. Shawn Thierry, who split with Democrats on LGBTQ+ votes, forced into primary runoff
Thierry angered fellow Democrats because of a speech she gave on the House floor in support of banning gender-transitioning care for minors.
Dean Phillips ends long-shot primary challenge against Biden for Democratic presidential nomination
Rep. Dean Phillips on Wednesday dropped out of 2024 Democratic race for the White House, halting his steep uphill primary challenge against President Biden. The move comes after the three-term congressman from Minnesota suffered dismal results on Super Tuesday, when 15 states from coast to coast – including his home state – held Democratic presidential nominating contests. “I ran for Congress in 2018 to resist Donald Trump, I was trapped in the Capitol in 2021 because of Donald Trump, and I ran for President in 2024 to resist Donald Trump again – because Americans were demanding an alternative, and democracy demands options,” Phillips wrote on X. “But it is clear that alternative is not me. And it is clear that Joe Biden is OUR candidate and OUR opportunity to demonstrate what type of country America is and intends to be.” “I ask you join me in mobilizing, energizing, and doing everything you can to help keep a man of decency and integrity in the White House. That’s Joe Biden,” he said. Phillips, one of the wealthiest members of Congress, last year repeatedly cited the now-81-year-old president’s age and criticized Biden for “not passing the torch” to the next generation of Democratic leaders. Phillips urged that a serious primary contender challenge the president for the party’s 2024 nomination. Biden continues to suffer from underwater approval ratings among many Americans and faces concerns – not just from Republicans and independents but also from Democrats – over his physical and mental stamina. When no other major Democrats considered running against Biden, the multimillionaire businessman and co-founder of a gelato company turned three-term House Democrat from Minnesota launched his own campaign in late October. “The country’s being very clear right now. They do not want Joe Biden to be the president. And they don’t want Donald Trump to be the president,” Phillips emphasized on the campaign trail late last year. “Whichever party breaks that logjam will win the White House, the Senate and the House.” And Phillips told Fox News Digital at the time that his mission was “to demonstrate that Americans are sick and tired of the nonsense. That we have a crisis that cannot be addressed by either Donald Trump or frankly, President Biden, and it’s time for change.” Phillips reiterated that he was running on behalf of “the exhausted majority” as he spotlighted issues such as the national debt, military spending and high taxes. And he heavily criticized the president and the Democratic National Committee for not allowing primary debates between Biden and his challengers. Phillips focused most of his time and resources during the first three months of his campaign on New Hampshire, where the president’s name wasn’t on the ballot in the state’s Jan. 23 unsanctioned Democratic primary. But Biden ended up winning 64% of the vote, thanks in great part to a write-in campaign on the president’s behalf organized by some top New Hampshire Democrats. Phillips came in second, with just under 20% of the vote. Phillips vowed to say in the race as he spoke to supporters in New Hampshire on primary night. “The polls are saying he [Biden] cannot win, his approval numbers are saying he can’t win,” Phillips argued. “We’re going to go to South Carolina, to Michigan, and 47 other states.” But in early February, the president won the South Carolina primary in a landslide, capturing over 96% of the vote. Phillips and best-selling author and spiritual adviser Marianne Williamson combined for less than 5,000 votes. Phillips said after his South Carolina shellacking that he would stay in the race as “a mission of principle”. Two weeks later, Phillips was forced to lay off a sizable portion of his campaign staff, due to lackluster fundraising. But a Phillips spokesperson dismissed talk that the congressman would end his White House bid, saying Phillips planned to remain in the race until the Democratic National Convention in August. The results in Michigan’s Feb. 27 primary were also disappointing, as Biden captured 81% of the vote, with Phillips at just under 3%, slightly behind Williamson. Thirteen percent of those casting ballots voted uncommitted, in a move to protest the Biden Administration’s support of Israel in its war with Hamas. Phillips was also in the campaign spotlight due to a couple of controversies. He faced criticism for scrubbing “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” language from his campaign website after he was publicly urged to do so by one of his donors. And Phillips briefly flirted with a third party run on a potential ticket by the centrist No Labels group before quickly backtracking.