Emmer attacks Democrats at start of 56-district campaign tour

Emmer opens Republican campaign push

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer opened a planned 56-district campaign tour by sharply criticizing Democratic candidates and urging Republican voters to participate in the midterm elections.

Speaking in Lewiston, Maine, the Minnesota Republican described some Democrats as “communists,” “Marxists” and “anarchists.” He rejected the democratic socialist label used by some candidates and said they were “anti-American.” Those descriptions were Emmer’s political characterizations, not statements about a ballot qualification or legal status.

The tour comes as Republicans seek to defend their majorities in the House and Senate. Emmer also directed his message toward the economy, blaming the Biden administration for inflation and arguing that President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans were addressing the country’s economic problems.

LePage and El-Sayed become the focus

Emmer made the remarks while campaigning for Paul LePage, a Republican House candidate in Maine. He portrayed LePage as someone who values Maine and the United States and said those qualities were reasons for voters to support him. No specific LePage policy proposal was part of Emmer’s argument.

Emmer also singled out Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan. He criticized statements and associations he attributed to El-Sayed while using the Michigan contest as an example of his broader case against the Democratic Party’s left wing. El-Sayed’s own policy positions were not addressed in Emmer’s remarks.

The Maine stop marked the beginning of Emmer’s multi-state effort to rally Republican voters. Early voting was already underway in some states, with Election Day six weeks away at the time of the appearance.