Pro-crypto US Representative Tom Emmer has won another term as House Republican whip, retaining a senior leadership position after Democrats won control of the chamber in the November midterm elections.
The Minnesota lawmaker defeated Texas Representative August Pfluger by 103 votes to 76 in a secret ballot on November 10. Emmer will become House minority whip when the new Congress begins on January 3, 2027, serving alongside incoming Republican leader Jim Jordan.
The leadership vote keeps Emmer as the second-ranking House Republican, although his party will no longer control the chamber. Jordan defeated current Majority Leader Steve Scalise by 106 votes to 73 to secure the top Republican position.
Emmer has served as majority whip since January 2023. His job involves counting votes, communicating leadership priorities, and working with members to secure support for legislation. In the minority, he will help Republicans coordinate their response to bills brought forward by Democrats.
Following the vote, Emmer acknowledged the election loss in an official statement released by his House leadership office. “Today is not a day for celebrating. We lost last Tuesday, and I take it personally,” he said.
Emmer also pledged to work toward Republican gains in the next congressional election. He said the party would seek to “build back our majority in 2028” by regaining voters' trust.
Emmer has backed several measures concerning cryptocurrency regulation. He and Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres launched the Congressional Crypto Caucus in March 2025 to coordinate support for digital asset policy across party lines.
He is an original cosponsor of the CLARITY Act, which seeks to clarify how US regulators oversee digital assets. The House passed the bill in July 2025 by a 294-134 vote.
The Senate Banking Committee later advanced market structure legislation in May 2026. However, the measure has not received final congressional approval.
Emmer also sponsored the Securities Clarity Act and Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act. Provisions from both measures entered the House version of the CLARITY Act. The developer protections address businesses and individuals that provide blockchain services without controlling customer funds.
Separately, his Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act seeks to restrict the Federal Reserve's ability to issue a central bank digital currency. The House passed the proposal in July 2025, and lawmakers sent it to the Senate through another bill in April 2026.
Emmer's election comes as Republicans prepare for a smaller House delegation following the November 3 midterms. Democrats will control the chamber in January, giving them authority over House committee leadership and the legislative schedule.
The leadership result does not change the approval requirements for crypto bills. Legislation must still pass both chambers before reaching the president. Democrats have also differed among themselves over how to regulate cryptocurrency businesses and protect investors.
Senator Cynthia Lummis welcomed Emmer's reelection, citing his opposition to a government-issued digital dollar. “Tom has been one of the strongest advocates for digital assets in Congress,” she wrote on X.
House Democrats plan to hold their leadership elections on November 18. Republicans will begin their next congressional term with Jordan as minority leader and Emmer responsible for organizing votes within the party.
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