Tom Emmer

Tom Emmer
Born	Thomas Earl Emmer Jr. 3 3, 1961
Birthplace	South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Attorney, politician, lobbyist
Known for	House Majority Whip, cryptocurrency advocacy, 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial candidate
Children	7
Website	[[emmer.house.gov emmer.house.gov] Official site]

Thomas Earl Emmer Jr. (born March 3, 1961) is an American attorney, lobbyist, and politician serving as the Majority Whip of the United States House of Representatives since January 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Emmer has represented Minnesota's 6th congressional district since 2015, succeeding Michele Bachmann. Before entering Congress, Emmer served three terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011 and ran unsuccessfully for governor of Minnesota in 2010, losing to Mark Dayton by less than half a percentage point. In Congress, Emmer has become a prominent advocate for the cryptocurrency industry and has held significant leadership roles, including chairing the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) from 2019 to 2023. In October 2023, he was briefly nominated by the House Republican Conference as its candidate for Speaker of the House before withdrawing from the race. His congressional district encompasses the far western and northern suburbs of Minneapolis in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, most of the St. Cloud metropolitan area, and a substantial portion of rural Central Minnesota, a region characterized primarily by agriculture.

Early Life

Thomas Earl Emmer Jr. was born on March 3, 1961, in South Bend, Indiana. He grew up in a large family environment and later relocated to Minnesota, where he would build his legal and political career. Details about his parents and childhood upbringing in South Bend remain limited in publicly available sources, though his gubernatorial campaign materials described his Indiana roots and subsequent move to the state that would become his political base.

Emmer settled in Minnesota and established himself as an attorney before entering politics. He and his wife raised seven children in the state, becoming deeply embedded in the communities of central Minnesota that he would later represent at both the state and federal levels.

Career

Minnesota House of Representatives (2005–2011)

Emmer began his political career by winning election to the Minnesota House of Representatives, where he represented District 19B. He took office on January 4, 2005, succeeding Dick Borrell. He served three terms in the state legislature, remaining in office until January 3, 2011.

During his time in the Minnesota House, Emmer built a reputation as a conservative legislator. He won reelection in subsequent cycles, maintaining his hold on his district. His tenure in the state legislature provided the foundation for his subsequent statewide and national political ambitions.

2010 Minnesota Gubernatorial Election

In 2010, Emmer entered the race for governor of Minnesota, seeking to succeed Tim Pawlenty. His candidacy attracted national attention, including an endorsement from former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who backed Emmer during the Republican primary campaign. Emmer also received the support of former Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau.

The 2010 gubernatorial race proved to be one of the closest in Minnesota history. Emmer faced Mark Dayton, the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party nominee, in the general election. The campaign was marked by several controversies, including scrutiny related to campaign contributions from Target Corporation that drew attention due to Emmer's positions on social issues.

Emmer lost the election to Dayton by less than half a percentage point, an extraordinarily narrow margin. The close result led to a period of uncertainty before the final outcome was certified. The defeat ended Emmer's gubernatorial ambitions, but he remained active in Republican politics and would soon set his sights on a congressional seat.

The Star Tribune and other Minnesota media outlets covered the race extensively, documenting the tight contest and its aftermath. The Herald-Journal had also profiled Emmer's gubernatorial ambitions earlier in the campaign cycle.

U.S. House of Representatives (2015–present)

Election to Congress

In 2014, Emmer ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Minnesota's 6th congressional district, seeking to succeed Michele Bachmann, who had announced she would not seek reelection. Emmer won the Republican primary and went on to win the general election, entering Congress on January 3, 2015. The 6th district, which includes the far western and northern suburbs of Minneapolis, most of the St. Cloud metropolitan area, and a large portion of rural Central Minnesota, was considered a reliably Republican seat. Emmer has been reelected four times since his initial victory.

NRCC Chairmanship (2019–2023)

Emmer was selected to chair the National Republican Congressional Committee beginning on January 3, 2019, succeeding Steve Stivers in the role. He served under House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy. The NRCC is the principal campaign organization for Republican candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives, making its chairmanship a significant leadership position within the party.

Emmer led the committee through the 2020 election cycle, in which House Republicans gained seats despite losing the presidential election, and through the 2022 midterm elections. In the 2022 cycle, Republicans regained control of the House, though by a narrower margin than many analysts and party leaders had predicted. Emmer served as NRCC chair until January 3, 2023, when he was succeeded by Richard Hudson.

Majority Whip

Following the 2022 midterm elections, with Republicans securing a narrow House majority, Emmer ran for the position of Majority Whip. He won a contested internal party election with a vote of 115 to 106, taking office on January 3, 2023. He succeeded Jim Clyburn, the outgoing Democratic whip, in what had become the majority's whip position. As Majority Whip, Emmer serves under Speakers Kevin McCarthy and later Mike Johnson.

In this role, Emmer is responsible for counting votes and ensuring party discipline on key legislation coming before the House floor. He has used the position to advance Republican legislative priorities and coordinate the party's legislative strategy.

As of February 2026, Emmer continues to serve as House Majority Whip. He participated in a press conference ahead of President Donald Trump's 2026 State of the Union address, speaking on behalf of the House Republican leadership. He announced that Blaine Police Chief Brian Podany and Blaine Brothers Board Chairman were among his guests for the joint address to Congress.

October 2023 Speaker of the House Nomination

In October 2023, following a period of turmoil in the House Republican Conference over the selection of a new Speaker, Emmer emerged as the conference's third nominee for the position. He was nominated after Steve Scalise withdrew his candidacy and Jim Jordan failed to secure enough votes in three successive floor ballots.

However, Emmer's candidacy was short-lived. Shortly after his nomination, former President Donald Trump publicly voiced opposition to Emmer, calling him "totally out-of-touch with Republican Voters" and a "Globalist RINO" (Republican In Name Only). Facing insufficient support to win on the House floor, Emmer withdrew from the race. The speakership ultimately went to Mike Johnson of Louisiana.

2020 Election Certification

Following the 2020 United States presidential election, Emmer initially cast doubt on the election results, stating that certain states had used "questionable" practices in administering the vote. He signed an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed by the state of Texas that sought to contest the outcome of the election in key swing states. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed by the Supreme Court of the United States.

Despite his initial posture questioning the election, Emmer ultimately voted to certify the Electoral College vote count following the events of January 6, 2021. This vote to certify distinguished him from a number of his Republican colleagues who voted against certification and was later cited as one of the factors behind Trump's opposition to Emmer's Speaker candidacy in October 2023.

Cryptocurrency Advocacy

During his tenure in Congress, Emmer has become known as a prominent advocate for the cryptocurrency industry. He has championed legislation and regulatory approaches favorable to digital assets and blockchain technology, positioning himself as one of the leading voices on crypto policy within the Republican Party and the House of Representatives.

Legislative Activity (2025–2026)

In January 2026, Emmer introduced the Stop Citizenship Abuse and Manipulation (SCAM) Act, legislation aimed at denaturalizing individuals convicted of fraud, terrorism, or felonies. The bill was first reported by Fox News.

In February 2026, Emmer released a statement supporting Border Czar Tom Homan's announcement of Operation Metro Surge, an immigration enforcement initiative.

Emmer also authored an opinion piece discussing the Working Families Tax Cut, arguing that the legislation had strengthened American families under President Trump's administration.

2026 Reelection

Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Emmer faces a primary challenge from Mike Foley, a Marine veteran from Elk River, who is seeking the Republican nomination in Minnesota's 6th congressional district.

Personal Life

Emmer resides in Minnesota with his family. He and his wife have seven children. Before entering politics, Emmer practiced law as an attorney. He was born in South Bend, Indiana, and later settled in the communities of central Minnesota that form the core of his congressional district.

Emmer's large family has been a recurring element of his public identity throughout his political career, from his gubernatorial campaign in 2010 through his service in Congress. He has represented a district that encompasses both suburban communities near Minneapolis and rural agricultural areas in Central Minnesota, and he has maintained ties to the communities within the district throughout his tenure.

Recognition

Emmer's most prominent leadership achievement has been his election as House Majority Whip, making him one of the highest-ranking members of the Republican Party in the U.S. House of Representatives. The position of whip is the third-ranking position in the House majority, behind the Speaker and the Majority Leader.

His chairmanship of the NRCC from 2019 to 2023 also represented a significant party leadership role, as the committee oversees fundraising and strategy for Republican House candidates nationwide. Under Emmer's leadership, Republicans regained the House majority in 2022, though the margin was narrower than anticipated.

Emmer's brief nomination as the Republican conference's candidate for Speaker of the House in October 2023 marked a high point in his career, even though he ultimately withdrew from the race. Being nominated as one of the party's choices for the speakership reflected his standing within the conference at the time.

His advocacy for cryptocurrency regulation has earned him recognition within the digital assets industry and among technology policy observers as one of the most prominent congressional voices on blockchain and crypto-related legislation.