U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips speaks during his election night party at Unmapped Brewery Co. in Minnetonka. Photo by Gillian Holte
Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips was reelected Tuesday to his 3rd District House seat, beating Republican Tom Weiler.
Phillips, 53, of Wayzata, has held that seat since 2019.
According to unofficial voting results, Phillips received 198,882 of the votes, or 59.56 percent of the ballots cast in all 231 precincts, while Weiler received 134,795, or 40.37%.
“I love representing the remarkable people of #MN03 and am humbled to continue serving the very community in which I was raised in the 118th Congress,” Phillips wrote Tuesday night on his Twitter account. “Thanks to all who chose optimism over fear. Our best days are still ahead, and Everyone’s Invited!”
Phillips told MinnPost last summer that serving in Congress is more than passing legislation. “Congress can’t legislate compassion, respect or civility, but Congress can model that behavior,” Phillips stated.
He has made gun violence a top priority among the many issues highlighted on his website. He advocates for expanding background checks for all purchases, reinstating the assault weapons ban, finding “common sense measures” to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, and supporting mental health and anti-bullying programs.
Weiler, 44, who lives in Plymouth but was raised in Eden Prairie, focused his campaign on issues at the center of many Republican campaigns — crime and the economy.
This was Weiler’s first run for political office. The Navy officer was a submariner in line to command his own ship when he retired after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
“Congratulations to Dean Phillips on winning another term,” Weiler wrote on his Twitter account Wednesday. “Represent us well. Thank you to all of our supporters & volunteers. Thank you to my family for everything.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated Wednesday morning with comments from Tom Weiler (via his Twitter account).