Tom Emmer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Emmer
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Official portrait, 2017
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| House Majority Whip | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 |
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| Speaker | Kevin McCarthy Mike Johnson |
| Preceded by | Jim Clyburn |
| Chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Leader | Kevin McCarthy |
| Preceded by | Steve Stivers |
| Succeeded by | Richard Hudson |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 6th district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Michele Bachmann |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 19B district |
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| In office January 4, 2005 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Dick Borrell |
| Succeeded by | Joe McDonald |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas Earl Emmer Jr.
March 3, 1961 South Bend, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Jacqueline Emmer
(m. 1986) |
| Children | 7 |
| Education | |
| Website | |
Thomas Earl Emmer Jr. (born March 3, 1961) is an American politician and lawyer. He is a member of the Republican Party. Since 2023, he has served as the majority whip in the United States House of Representatives. This is a leadership role where he helps make sure party members vote together on important issues.
Emmer has represented Minnesota's 6th congressional district since 2015. This district includes suburbs of Minneapolis and rural areas in Central Minnesota. Before joining Congress, Emmer was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011. In 2010, he ran for governor of Minnesota but narrowly lost to Mark Dayton.
In Congress, Emmer has become known for his strong support of the cryptocurrency industry. From 2019 to 2023, he was the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, where he helped other Republicans get elected to Congress.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tom Emmer was born in South Bend, Indiana. His family later moved to Edina, Minnesota. He went to St. Thomas Academy, a Catholic military high school near Saint Paul.
For college, Emmer first attended Boston College and then the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He played ice hockey at both schools. He graduated in 1984 with a degree in political science. In 1988, he earned a law degree from the William Mitchell College of Law in Saint Paul.
Political Career
Before becoming a state lawmaker, Emmer worked as a lawyer. He represented cities and counties in legal cases. He also served on the city councils of Independence, Minnesota, and Delano, Minnesota.
Minnesota House of Representatives
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In 2004, Emmer was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. He represented District 19B, which included parts of Wright and Hennepin counties. He won reelection in 2006 and 2008.
While in the state legislature, he served on several committees. These included committees on finance, health care, and government operations. Instead of running for reelection in 2010, he decided to run for governor.
2010 Race for Governor
In 2009, Emmer announced he was running for governor of Minnesota. The Republican Party of Minnesota officially supported him as their candidate. He ran against Mark Dayton of the DFL and Tom Horner of the Independence Party.
The election was very close. Emmer lost to Dayton by less than one percent of the vote. After an automatic recount confirmed the results, Emmer conceded the election on December 8, 2010.
U.S. House of Representatives
In 2013, Representative Michele Bachmann announced she would not run for reelection in Minnesota's 6th congressional district. Emmer decided to run for her seat. He won the Republican nomination and then won the general election in November 2014. He has been reelected every two years since.
Leadership Roles
NRCC Chairman
From 2019 to 2023, Emmer was the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). His job was to help Republican candidates across the country win elections for the House of Representatives.
House Majority Whip
After the 2022 elections, Republicans won a majority in the House. Emmer was elected as the House Majority Whip. As whip, he is the third-highest-ranking Republican in the House. He works to make sure Republican members are united and vote for the party's goals.
2023 Speaker Election
In October 2023, the position of Speaker of the House became vacant. After two other candidates could not get enough votes, Republicans nominated Emmer for the job. However, he withdrew from the race on the same day. He did not have enough support from all members of his party to win. Mike Johnson was then nominated and elected as the new Speaker.
Committee Work
For the 118th Congress, Emmer serves on the Committee on Financial Services. This committee oversees the country's financial system, including banks and the stock market. He is also on subcommittees that focus on capital markets and digital assets like cryptocurrency.
Caucus Memberships
Emmer is a member of several groups in Congress called caucuses. These groups of lawmakers work together on specific issues. Some of the caucuses he belongs to are:
- Republican Main Street Partnership
- Republican Study Committee
- Congressional Western Caucus
- Rare Disease Caucus
Key Political Positions
Here are some of Tom Emmer's views on important issues.
Cryptocurrency
Emmer is a major supporter of cryptocurrency and digital money. He is often called one of the biggest crypto advocates in Congress. He has worked to create laws for the crypto industry that he believes will help it grow. He has also opposed strong government regulation of crypto.
In 2023, he co-sponsored a bill called the SEC Stabilization Act. This bill was introduced after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued two large crypto companies.
Economy and Taxes
Emmer is against raising taxes. When he was a state lawmaker, he proposed getting rid of Minnesota's corporate tax over time. He also once introduced a change that would have removed the state's minimum wage law.
Environment
Emmer supports increasing oil and gas production in the United States. In 2022, he co-sponsored a resolution to support drilling for energy resources. He has also supported plans for copper and nickel mining in northern Minnesota's Superior National Forest. The League of Conservation Voters, an environmental group, has given him a low lifetime score for his voting record on environmental issues.
Healthcare
Emmer is in favor of repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. In 2017, he voted for the American Health Care Act, a bill that aimed to replace the ACA.
Same-Sex Marriage
In the past, Emmer supported a Minnesota state constitutional amendment to define marriage as only between a man and a woman. In 2022, he was one of 47 Republicans who voted for the Respect for Marriage Act. This federal law protects the right to same-sex marriage nationwide.
Personal Life
Emmer and his wife, Jacqueline, were married in 1986. They have seven children. Emmer enjoys playing and coaching ice hockey. He is a Roman Catholic.
His great-grandfather and his brothers started a lumber company in 1910. Today, it is an employee-owned company called Viking Forest Products.
See also
In Spanish: Tom Emmer para niños
