As the 2020 election is progressing closer to the November 3rd finish line, Tom Emmer is making his play for the House Speaker position. Currently, the Representative from Minnesota’s 6th Congressional district is the House Republican Majority Whip and a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. Emmer has received backing from current Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who said Emmer is “ready to lead and that the Republicans should elect him as House Speaker”.
Emmer first joined the House in 2015. He has risen steadily among the ranks of the Republican-led half of Congress and is now competing for the speaker nomination that was left vacant following the resignation of Speaker Paul Ryan. Emmer is one of four candidates hoping to fill the role of Speaker. Along with the McCarthy endorsement, Emmer also has the backing of several other prominent House Republicans, including Representative Mark Walker.
What makes Emmer stand out from the other candidates is his membership in the house Freedom Caucus. He previously served as chairman of the House Budget Committee during his tenure in the House. This accomplishments has lead many political experts to speculate that he has the support of fiscal conservatives in the House.
Emmer has proven himself to be a leader and a team player. He joined with other Freedom Caucus members to pass several conservative pieces of legislation, including a repeal of many of the Obama-era financial regulations. This effort was part of larger mission to make good on Republicans’ promises of economic freedom and deregulation.
Emmer is hoping to use the House Speaker position to continue this work. With the General Election fast approaching and Republicans looking to maintain their hold on the House, Emmer will be a key part of their effort. He is not only a member of the House Freedom Caucus, he is also known as a collaborative leader who can bring different sides together. It remains to be seen whether Republicans will rally around Emmer and make him the next Speaker, but with McCarthy’s backing and Emmer’s proven record of success, it appears that he is well positioned to succeed.