House Republicans chose to keep Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota as party whip in the next Congress, rejecting a challenge from an ambitious younger member after last week’s sweeping midterm losses.
Emmer beat Texas Rep. August Pfluger 103-76 in the secret-ballot vote, according to two people present for the tally.
Emmer, 65, will serve alongside Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, who was elected minority leader earlier Tuesday, as House Republicans navigate the last two years of Donald Trump’s presidency and look to claw back the massive Democratic gains in 2028.
The result effectively promotes Emmer from the No. 3 spot to No. 2 spot in the House GOP leadership despite widespread frustration from members over the election results. The 48-year-old Pfluger, who has been angling for a bigger job as chair of the Republican Study Committee, argued the existing leadership echelon should have done more to protect the majority.
Emmer has served as majority whip since 2023, after helping secure a GOP majority in the 2022 midterms as NRCC chair. He launched a run for speaker later that year after California Rep. Kevin McCarthy lost the gavel and won an internal caucus vote. But President Donald Trump publicly opposed him, effectively killing his bid.
Emmer was seen at the time as a MAGA skeptic but has since become much closer to Trump. His name was floated as a potential contender for minority leader but he ultimately declined to seek the No. 1 slot several weeks before the midterms.