MN District 3 Election Results: Qualls Concedes To Dean Phillips

ST. LOUIS PARK, MN — Republican Kendall Qualls conceded to Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips Tuesday night. Qualls' concession came after AP projected Phillips as the winner.

Dean Phillips was a successful businessman before his election to Congress in 2018, which made him the first Democrat to represent Minnesota's Third District in decades. Phillips upset longtime Republican incumbent Erik Paulsen, who held the district's seat since 2009.

Phillips is hoping the voters of the west metro suburbs decide to re-elect him Tuesday.

Though the Third District is — historically — more conservative than other Twin Cities metro districts, its voters overwhelming supported Hillary Clinton in 2016. Phillips has been quick to highlight his opposition to President Donald Trump, and his opponents support of the president.

• Democrat Dean Phillips: 220,196 votes
• Republican Kendall Qualls: 170,315 votes

Note: It's unclear exactly when the unofficial vote count will be complete in Minnesota. "When citizens see that on election night we don't have 100 percent of the results in, it is literally by design. This is the plan," Secretary of State Steve Simon said in an online news conference in October.

"It's not evidence that anyone is hiding or concealing or rigging or stealing. It's evidence of the actual plan."

So if all of the state's races aren't called by the end of the night, do not be alarmed or surprised.

"My opponent voted for Donald Trump in Colorado in 2016 and continues to support his 2020 re-election," Phillips told Patch in his candidate profile. "I did not vote for Donald Trump and will not vote for Donald Trump."

As a Democrat, Phillips has won the endorsements of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, which sets him apart from the more progressive members of his party.

Patch will be bringing you live results for the presidential race in Minnesota. Check back here when polls close for links to our live updating results from election night.

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Republican challenger Kendall Qualls says Phillips isn't as moderate as he proclaims.

"Dean Phillips promotes himself as a bipartisan moderate, but his voting regard says otherwise," he told Patch in his own candidate profile.

"Dean Philipps has voted with Nancy Pelosi and her liberal agenda 100 percent of the time and Ilhan Omar 94 percent of the time. Simply put, the Third District deserves someone who will vote according to the pro-business, pro-education, and pro-family values of the Third District."

Phillips is the co-owner of Penny's Coffee. He's also the former chairman of Talenti Gelato, and the former CEO of Phillips Distilling

Qualls has worked as a healthcare executive for 27 years.