Republican U.S. Rep Tom Emmer won re-election to a fifth term in the right-leaning Sixth Congressional District on Tuesday.
Emmer, 61, faced little-known DFL challenger Jeanne Hendricks, 65, a semi-retired nurse anesthetist who lives outside the district in St. Louis Park and has never held elected office.
Emmer is expecting to compete for a top leadership role if the Republicans take control of the U.S. House.
Emmer's seat was considered to be a safe Republican hold and, as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), Emmer did most of his campaigning in other states as he worked to elect a GOP majority by faulting Democrats for rising crime and economic and border issues.
The NRCC only needed to flip five seats nationwide to regain control. Emmer said he traveled to 30 states and held fundraisers for 160 members of Congress.
Despite former President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election, Emmer called him "a great ally, especially when it comes to fundraising."
Under a Republican majority, Emmer would be among at least three lawmakers vying for the post of majority whip. If he wins, the Delano lawyer would become the highest-ranking Minnesotan in Congress.
Hendricks hoped to benefit from a Democratic surge created by threats to democracy and the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
The Sixth District includes most or all of Anoka, Benton, Carver, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties.
