Tom Emmer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| House Majority Whip | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Speaker | Kevin McCarthy Mike Johnson |
| Preceded by | Jim Clyburn |
| Chair of theNational Republican Congressional Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Leader | Kevin McCarthy |
| Preceded by | Steve Stivers |
| Succeeded by | Richard Hudson |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMinnesota's6th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Michele Bachmann |
| Member of theMinnesota House of Representatives from the 19B district | |
| In office January 4, 2005 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Dick Borrell |
| Succeeded by | Joe McDonald |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Earl Emmer Jr. (1961-03-03)March 3, 1961 (age 64) South Bend, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 7 |
| Education | |
| Website | House website Party website |
Tom Emmer speaks in support of the Financial CHOICE Act, legislation to replace portions of theDodd-Frank Act Recorded June 8, 2017 | |
Thomas Earl Emmer Jr.[1] (born March 3, 1961) is an American attorney, lobbyist, and politician who has served asmajority whip in theUnited States House of Representatives since 2023. A member of theRepublican Party, he has representedMinnesota's 6th congressional district since 2015. During his tenure in Congress, he has been known as a staunch advocate for the crypto industry.[2]
Before his election to Congress, Emmer served three terms as a member of theMinnesota House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011. He lost the2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election toMinnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party nomineeMark Dayton by less than half a percentage point.[3][4] Emmer was elected to Congress in2014, winning the 6th district seat being vacated byMichele Bachmann. He has been reelected four times. The district includes the far western and northern suburbs ofMinneapolis in theTwin Cities metropolitan area, most of theSt. Cloud metropolitan area, and a large part of ruralCentral Minnesota, generally an agricultural region.
Emmer chaired theNational Republican Congressional Committee from 2019 to 2023. After Republicans gained a narrow-than-expected majority in the2022 U.S. House of Representatives elections, he won a contested election for majority whip, 115-106.[5]
Emmer initially cast doubt on the2020 U.S. presidential election results, saying that certain states used "questionable" practices in administering the vote.[citation needed] After signing anamicus brief in support ofTexas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit seeking to contest the outcome in key swing states, Emmer ultimately voted tocertify the Electoral College vote count.[6]
Emmer was theHouse Republican Conference's third nominee for theOctober 2023 Speaker of the House election, afterSteve Scalise withdrew andJim Jordan failed to garner the votes needed in the first three ballots. He withdrew himself from the race shortly after former presidentDonald Trump voiced his opposition, calling him "totally out-of-touch with Republican Voters" and a "Globalist RINO".[7]
Emmer was born inSouth Bend, Indiana.[8] His family later moved toEdina, Minnesota. He attendedSt. Thomas Academy, an all-male, Catholic, military, college-preparatory high school inMendota Heights, nearSaint Paul.[9]
Emmer attendedBoston College[10] and theUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks,[1] graduating from the latter in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts inpolitical science. He played hockey for both schools. In 1988, Emmer received aJuris Doctor fromWilliam Mitchell College of Law inSaint Paul, Minnesota.[11]
Emmer began his legal career representing cities and counties through the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust and the League of Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust, handling lawsuits against police officers. He also represented volunteer firefighters and city and county inspectors, and handled a variety of land use issues. He was licensed to practice law in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.[12]
Emmer served on city councils inIndependence, Minnesota, and then inDelano, Minnesota.[10]
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In 2004, incumbent Republican State RepresentativeDick Borrell of Minnesota's House District 19B decided to retire. District 19B included portions ofWright andHennepin Counties and the cities ofOtsego,Albertville,St. Michael,Rockford,Delano,Montrose, andWaverly.[10] Emmer, the Republican candidate, defeated Democrat Lori M. Schmidt, an attorney, 60%–40%, in the November 2004 general election.[13]
In 2006, Emmer won reelection to a second term with 61% of the vote.[14] In 2008, he was reelected to a third term with 61% of the vote.[15] In 2010, he chose to run forgovernor of Minnesota rather than seek reelection.
During legislative sessions, Emmer regularly rode the bus to theMinnesota State Capitol.[16] Emmer served on the Finance Committee, the Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee, and the State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections Committee. He was also a member of the Finance Subcommittee for the Health Care and Human Services Finance Division, and of the Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Subcommittee for the Licensing Division.[10]
Emmer officially announced his candidacy forgovernor of the State of Minnesota in July 2009.[17][18] In January 2010, Emmer came in second toMarty Seifert in a non-bindingstraw poll of Republican Partycaucus participants.[19] In April 2010, Emmer announced that hisrunning mate would beMetropolitan Council memberAnnette Meeks. Emmer received the endorsements of former Alaska governorSarah Palin,[20] GovernorTim Pawlenty, and Lieutenant GovernorCarol Molnau.[21] On April 30, 2010, the Republican Party of Minnesota officially endorsed Emmer as its candidate for governor at the state convention in Minneapolis. His main opponent, Marty Seifert, withdrew from the race and endorsed Emmer when it became apparent that Emmer was nearing the threshold for party endorsement. On August 10, 2010, Emmer won the Republican primary with 82% of the vote, a 75-point margin over Bob Carney.[22][23]
The race attracted national attention as the "first case in this election cycle of a company hit by national protests over a campaign donation".[24] Minnesota-basedTarget Corporation donated $150,000 toMinnesota Forward, a newpolitical action committee paying for advertising that supported Emmer's gubernatorial election.[25] Emmer said he viewed Target's donation as an exercise in free speech and wanted to keep his campaign focused on economic issues.[26]Best Buy also donated $100,000 to Minnesota Forward.[27]
The general election was contested by Emmer, former U.S. senatorMark Dayton (DFL), andIndependence Party candidate Tom Horner. Emmer trailed Dayton by 9,000 votes in the general election results, a margin small enough to trigger an automaticrecount. Most analysts felt it was unlikely that the Emmer campaign could overcome such a deficit in a recount.[28] After the recount made little difference, Emmer conceded the election on December 8, 2010.[29]
Emmer was a registeredlobbyist in Minnesota,[30] and co-hosted a morning talk radio program with Bob Davis onKTLK in Minneapolis.
In early 2011, he ran for an open Minnesota seat on theRepublican National Committee, but lost that election to Hennepin County CommissionerJeff Johnson.[31]
Emmer hosted a 2011 event promoting the launch of RepresentativeRon Paul's presidential campaign in Minnesota.[32]
Upon the surprise retirement of U.S. RepresentativeMichele Bachmann, announced in May 2013, Emmer was considered a possible candidate for the Sixth Congressional District seat; his state house district included a large slice of the congressional district's western portion.[33] On June 5, 2013, Emmer officially announced he would seek the Republican nomination for the seat.[34] On February 4, 2014, Emmer received 67.9% of the vote in a 6th district straw poll.[35][36] On April 12 he received the Republican Party endorsement for the nomination on the first ballot with 76%, but he still faced a primary challenge from his two competitors, Anoka County Board ChairwomanRhonda Sivarajah and former state representativePhil Krinkie.[37] Emmer was endorsed by theTea Party Express,Young Americans for Liberty's Liberty Action Fund, and many Minnesota legislators.[38][39] He won the primary with 73% of the vote, and easily prevailed in the November general election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Emmer | 19,557 | 73.3 | |
| Republican | Rhonda Sivarajah | 7,125 | 26.7 | |
| Total votes | 26,682 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Emmer | 133,328 | 56.3 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Joe Perske | 90,926 | 38.4 | |
| Independence | John Denney | 12,457 | 5.2 | |
| Write-in | 135 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 236,846 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
In 2016 Emmer defeated Democratic nominee David Snyder, 66% to 34%.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Emmer (incumbent) | 13,590 | 68.7 | |
| Republican | A. J. Kern | 5,219 | 26.4 | |
| Republican | Patrick Munro | 962 | 4.9 | |
| Total votes | 19,771 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Emmer (incumbent) | 235,380 | 65.6 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | David Snyder | 123,008 | 34.3 | |
| Write-in | 536 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 358,924 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
In 2018 Emmer defeated Democratic nominee Ian Todd, 61% to 39%.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Emmer (incumbent) | 34,251 | 76.6 | |
| Republican | A.J. Kern | 7,897 | 17.7 | |
| Republican | Patrick Munro | 2,575 | 5.8 | |
| Total votes | 44,723 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Emmer (incumbent) | 192,936 | 61.1 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Ian Todd | 122,330 | 38.7 | |
| Write-in | 463 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 315,729 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
In 2020 Emmer defeated Democratic nominee Tawnja Zahradka 66% to 34%.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Emmer (incumbent) | 30,654 | 87.2 | |
| Republican | Patrick Munro | 4,518 | 12.8 | |
| Total votes | 35,172 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Emmer (incumbent) | 270,901 | 65.7 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Tawnja Zahradka | 140,853 | 34.2 | |
| Write-in | 553 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 412,307 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
In 2022 Emmer defeated Democratic nominee Jeanne Hendricks, 62% to 37%.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Emmer (incumbent) | 198,145 | 62.0 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Jeanne Hendricks | 120,852 | 37.8 | |
| Write-in | 770 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 319,767 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
According to theMcCourt School of Public Policy atGeorgetown University, Emmer held a Bipartisan Index Score of -0.0 in the116th United States Congress for 2019, which placed him 192nd out of 435 members.[41] Based onFiveThirtyEight's congressional vote tracker atABC News, Emmer voted with Donald Trump's statedpublic policy positions 91.5% of the time,[42] which ranked him average in the 116th United States Congress when predictive scoring (district partisanship and voting record) is used.[43]
In October 2020, after it was determined that Emmer had interacted with individuals who tested positive for coronavirus in Washington D.C., such as Donald Trump, Emmer flew on a Delta flight in violation of the airline's rules, potentially exposing the other passengers to the virus.[44]
On May 19, 2021, Emmer and the other seven Republican House leaders voted against establishing a national commission to investigate theJanuary 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol Complex. Thirty-five House Republicans and all 217 Democrats present voted to establish such a commission.[45][46]
In August 2021, Emmer released a statement about the resignation of Minnesota Republican Party chairJennifer Carnahan after her ties with donor, strategist, and convicted sex trafficker Anton Lazzaro became a national news story.[47][48] Emmer had previously received a $15,600 donation from Lazzaro, which Emmer said he would donate to charity.[49][50][51]
On November 15, 2022, after Republicans gained the House majority, Emmer was electedMajority Whip. He won what was reportedly the conference's closest race, beatingDrew Ferguson on the first ballot andJim Banks on the second by a 115–106 vote.[52][53]
On October 20, 2023, it was reported that Emmer was considering a bid forSpeaker of the House and making calls to gather support. He has been endorsed by former speakerKevin McCarthy, who said, "He is the right person for the job. He can unite the conference. He understands the dynamics of the conference. He also understands what it takes to win and keep a majority."[54] On October 24, the Republican conference nominated Emmer for the speaker candidateship, but he dropped out the same day following opposition from hardliners and former presidentDonald Trump.[55] He was replaced byMike Johnson, who later won the speakership.[56]
For the118th Congress:[57]
Emmer is anti-abortion.[63] He has an A+ rating fromSusan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, and opposes the use of taxpayer dollars for abortion purposes.[64]
In 2009, Emmer voted against legislation to prohibit sales of any children's product containingBisphenol-A (except for used children's products).[65][66] He said he voted against the law because of fear of "increased costs." "As well-intentioned as people may be," he said, "they don't think about what this vote means five steps down the line".[67]
During an October 9, 2010, televised debate, Emmer said he would oppose legislation to combat schoolbullying against gay and lesbian young people. Emmer, who voted against anti-bullying legislation as a state lawmaker, said that teachers are most responsible for halting bullies, but suggested that the threat of lawsuits keeps them from doing so. "I don't think we need more laws; I think we need more understanding," he said.[68]
As a state representative, in 2007 Emmer calledclimate science "Al Gore's climate porn", referring to Gore's documentaryAn Inconvenient Truth.[69]
Emmer co-sponsored a 2022 nonbinding resolution in support of domestic oil and gas production, which did not pass. The proposal urged the House to "support the safe and responsible development of its energy resources via drilling".[70]
The environmental advocacyLeague of Conservation Voters has given Emmer a lifetime score of 5%, the lowest in Minnesota's congressional delegation. Recent votes improved his 2021 score to 21%, compared to the U.S. House average of 57%.[71]
In 2018, Emmer supported two copper nickel mines in the Superior National Forest.[72] As of 2019[update], they were planned by Polymet, which is owned by Switzerland-based mining giantGlencore, and Twin Metals, which is owned by Antofagasta, a Chilean mining company controlled by the Luksics, one of Chile's wealthiest families.[73]
When the Department of Interior did not list copper or nickel as two of 35 "critical minerals" essential to national security in 2018, Emmer released a press release of a letter he wrote to Department of Interior SecretaryRyan Zinke requesting that copper and nickel be included.[74]
Emmer and RepresentativePete Stauber both stood beside Assistant Secretary of the Interior Joseph Balash as he signed leases permitting Twin Metals to explore a large area of national forest land nine miles southeast of Ely for copper-nickel reserves on May 15, 2019. The Obama administration had mothballed the lease renewal pending an environmental review, but Twin Metals is now in possession of a 10-year lease to explore the area, with a view toward opening a mine there.[75]
Tom Emmer is an outspoken proponent ofcryptocurrency and digital assets.[76] In 2023,Politico called him "Capitol Hill's top crypto advocate for years, championing the industry well before most members of Congress took it seriously."[2] He has persistently fought federal regulation of the crypto industry.[2] Emmer raised the second-most cash from the crypto industry of all members of Congress in the 2022 election cycle.[2]
In June 2023, Emmer cosponsored the SEC Stabilization Act, which would effectively fireU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chairmanGary Gensler.[77] The legislation was not considered likely to win Congressional approval. It was introduced a week after the SEC suedCoinbase andBinance, claiming they failed to register as a national securities exchange, broker, and clearing agency.[78]
After endorsingDonald Trump for president in 2024, Emmer said, "If the second Trump administration takes place, [the] president will be a lot more friendly to the crypto industry". Industry advocates say their efforts to develop regulations are nonpartisan.[79]
In 2009, Emmer sponsored a bill that would shorten the period of license revocation fordriving under the influence and for refusing to take afield sobriety test. Additionally, though "suspected drunken drivers [currently] face revocation before they go to court," Emmer's bill would have delayed revocations until after conviction.[80] Supporters of Emmer's bill said "it's needed because pre-conviction revocations penalize drivers before proving they're guilty."[81]Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the head of the Minnesota DWI task force opposed the legislation[80] because it would allow arrested drivers to continue to drive during the time between their arrest and hearing.[82]
Emmer's own history became an issue in relation to his bill.[83] At age 20, Emmer received adriving under the influence-related ticket. In 1991, at age 30, he pleaded guilty to careless driving while two charges forDWI and a license-plate violation were dropped.[80] Emmer denied that his own drunk driving and legal consequences played a part in the bill, stating, "We all come to the Legislature with life experiences, but it has nothing to do with this bill."[80] Emmer also said that his sentence in 1981 should have been harsher, because in that case he "probably wouldn't have taken the second chance" that led to his subsequent arrests and guilty plea in 1991.[84]
On May 13, 2010, Emmer was one of three legislators not to vote on a bill that would have provided such tougher penalties for drunk drivers. He said he missed the vote when a previously scheduled lunch ran long, and that he had "no idea" how he would have voted on the bill, but that he "assume[d]" he would have supported it.[85]
In an October 2022 CBS News television interview, Emmer was challenged for posting a video on Twitter that showed him firing a fully automatic machine gun with the caption "#FIREPELOSI".[86] As chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), Emmer led 2022 election efforts to win a majority and replace House SpeakerNancy Pelosi. The post occurred just days before the home invasion and attack on Pelosi's husband in California.
Emmer favors repealing theAffordable Care Act (Obamacare). After supporting the March 2017 version of theAmerican Health Care Act (a bill to repeal the ACA), he voted for it on May 4, 2017, before it had been scored by the Congressional Budget Office to determine its economic impact.[citation needed]
In 2005, as a state representative, Emmer introduced an amendment that would have eliminated Minnesota'sminimum wage law.[87]
Emmer supported PresidentDonald Trump's 2017executive order to temporarily curtail immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries until better screening methods are devised, saying, "Everybody needs to take a deep breath. There is no litmus test based on religion. The administration and I understand it has — takes the seven countries identified by the Obama administration, not this administration, as the most dangerous countries when it comes to potential terrorists."[88]
Emmer voted to provide Israel with support following the2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[89][90]
Emmer has supported "conscience clause" legislation that would allow pharmacists to refuse to dispensecontraception on the basis of "ethical, moral or legal grounds as long as the pharmacist notifies their employer in advance and the employer can ensure a patient has timely access to the drug or device".[91]
Emmer supported a state constitutional amendment banning civil recognition ofsame-sex marriage or its legal equivalent, stating, "I believe marriage is the union between one man and one woman."[92] In March 2007, Emmer introduced HF 1847, an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution "recognizing as marriage or its legal equivalent only a union between one man and one woman."[93] Voters later rejected2012 Minnesota Amendment 1.
Emmer was among 47 Republican Representatives who voted in favor of theRespect for Marriage Act, which codified the right to same-sex marriage in federal law.[94][95]
In 2010 Emmer sponsored an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution that would allow the state to nullify federal laws.[96]
Emmer strongly opposes tax increases. He has also proposed gradually reducing the state corporate tax, with the eventual goal of repealing it altogether.[97]
In December 2020, Emmer was one of 126 Republican members of theHouse of Representatives to sign anamicus brief in support ofTexas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at theUnited States Supreme Court contesting the results of the2020 presidential election, in whichJoe Biden defeated incumbentDonald Trump.[98] The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lackedstanding underArticle III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[99][100][101]
House SpeakerNancy Pelosi issued a statement that called signing the amicus brief an act of "election subversion." She also reprimanded Emmer and the other House members who supported the lawsuit: "The 126 Republican Members that signed onto this lawsuit brought dishonor to the House. Instead of upholding their oath to support and defend the Constitution, they chose to subvert the Constitution and undermine public trust in our sacred democratic institutions."[102][103]
Whenformer president Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, Emmer said, "Democrats just pulled off the biggest sham in U.S. history".[104][105] Emmer serves as Trump's Minnesota campaign chair.[106] He joined other Republican leaders in condemning Trump's conviction[107] and appeared with other Republican leaders, promising "to use House oversight powers and other measures to target jurisdictions pursuing prosecutions of the former president."[108]
On July 5, 2010, after visiting a restaurant in St. Paul, Emmer was asked during a press conference if he supported a tip credit, the policy of allowing businesses to subtracttips from a server's hourly wage. His response was "Yes... if you didn't have a minimum wage law", adding, "somebody could be taking home well over one hundred thousand dollars as a server" while the restaurant owner could be making much less.[109][110]
One week after that press conference, Emmer announced a proposal that would exempt the first $20,000 a server makes in tips from state taxes.[111] At the same press conference a protester dumped $20 in pennies on Emmer's lap.[112]
On November 8, 2023, Emmer joined 100 other Republicans voting in favor of an amendment to a large appropriations bill that would prohibit funding for the Office of Vice PresidentKamala Harris.[113][114]
In 2019, Emmer sent a fundraising letter that critics alleged includedantisemitic canards.[115] The letter claimed that "left-wing radicals essentially BOUGHT control of Congress for the Democrats" and that three Jewish billionaires (Michael Bloomberg,Tom Steyer andGeorge Soros) "bought" control of Congress for Democrats.[116]
Emmer vigorously rejected the allegations, and numerous Republicans pushed back against them, including Matt Brooks of theRepublican Jewish Coalition, who argued, "Firstly, Tom Steyer isn’t even Jewish; he's a practicingEpiscopalian. Secondly, people can't simply be shielded from criticism because they're Jewish, not when otherwise similar people are criticized for the same exact actions. If it's fair to criticize theKochs, like leading Democrat presidential candidates have done, then it's fair to criticize the top Democratic funders."[116]
In 1910, Emmer's great-grandfather and his two brothers founded Emmer Brothers Lumber.[117] It is now called Viking Forest Products and is employee-owned.[118] Viking Forest Products is a subsidiary of Forest City Trading Group, one of the nation's largest wholesalers of forest products.[119]
Emmer has seven children with his wife, Jacqueline, whom he married in 1986.[12] He is a hockey player and coach.[16] Emmer is a Roman Catholic.[120]
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| Minnesota House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theMinnesota House of Representatives from the 19B district 2005–2011 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of Minnesota 2010 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theNational Republican Congressional Committee 2019–2023 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMinnesota's 6th congressional district 2015–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | House Majority Whip 2023–present | |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 138th | Succeeded by |
| Preceded byasHouse Minority Leader | Order of precedence of the United States | Succeeded byasHouse Minority Whip |
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