WASHINGTON – Rep. Tom Emmer was returned to his GOP leadership job Tuesday, but this time as a member of the minority.

Coming out of House Republican’s closed door leadership vote, Emmer, R-6^th District, seemed unbowed by the shellacking his party took in last week’s midterm elections.

An angry Emmer vowed that Republicans would retake the majority in 2028, a presidential election year.

“You will regret putting your name on a ballot,” Emmer warned Democrats. “House Republicans will vote each and every Democrat out for every vote cast, every committee held and every sentence said on MSDNC” – a reference to the Democratic National Committee and a slam on MS NOW.

The combative Emmer said the new Republican minority in the next Congress would “expose Democrats’ lies, and show Americans their true colors as the radical communist that they are.”

Four years ago, fellow Republicans made Emmer the majority whip. On Tuesday, the much-diminished members of the next Congress elected Emmer in a secret ballot over rival Rep. August Pfluger, D-Texas, as minority whip. That will be the No. 2 position in the GOP House leadership.

As majority whip, Emmer’s main task is to round up enough GOP votes to pass Republican legislation. As minority whip, his job will be to secure votes against Democratic bills.  

Related: Emmer, seeking to gain favor and protect a GOP majority, raised millions for losing House candidates

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, beat out the more moderate Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., in his third attempt to lead Republicans on Capitol Hill. Jordan is a co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus and prominent MAGA figure.

When asked if he viewed his role as defending President Donald Trump, Jordan said his mission is to “help House Republicans get back to the majority.”

After the devastating midterm for the GOP, House Speaker Mike Johnson chose to stand down from leadership.

Some Republicans were more reflective in public than Emmer.

“I want someone who has a message and admits that we made a mistake,” said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., of his preference for a party leader. He said the GOP had better make changes “or we will continue to lose.”

House Republicans allowed GOP lawmakers whose races remain undecided to cast a ballot in the leadership race.  

So, Rep. Brad Finstad, R-1^st District, who is trailing Democratic rival Jake Johnson by fewer than 350 votes in results that are heading for a recount, will be allowed to take part in the leadership election.

Related: Matt Little elected as Minnesota’s newest U.S. House member

The Democratic takeover of the House also strips Republicans of committee and subcommittee chairmanships.

Rep. Pete Stauber, R-8^th District, for instance, had hoped to become chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over mining. But now Stauber is likely to be challenged in an attempt to become the highest-ranking Republican on the panel.

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