House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) beat back a spirited challenge from Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), the Republican Study Committee chairman, on Tuesday for his leadership post.
Emmer, who has served as GOP whip since January 2023, will be the No. 2 Republican in Congress next year as the party takes the minority. The GOP lost majorities in both the House and Senate in last week’s 2026 midterm elections. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) decided to step down after the result rather than seek another term leading his party, albeit in the minority.
“There’s a very real question: if current leadership could have gotten us here, why didn’t they?” Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX) told the Washington Examiner ahead of the vote. “That’s not speaking for every race, but certainly we have to have a change of leadership and a change of course.”
Emmer opted against running for minority leader and sought reelection as Republican whip.
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Pfluger, who leads the largest internal caucus within the House GOP, said he ran for whip because of a belief the current leadership team “left a lot on the table” over the last two years while being in the majority.
“Championship teams take the time to debrief after every game,” Pfluger wrote in a letter to colleagues announcing his bid. “It is time to regroup, recharge, and fully unify. We need fresh ideas and a leadership team committed to rebuilding a culture with a clear game plan to win in 2028.”