In his most recent piece, Nate Hochman claims that National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) chairman Tom Emmer (R., Minn.) “has already fallen far short in his position as chairman of the NRCC” and therefore is undeserving of promotion to (likely) majority whip.
Hochman correctly asserts that Emmer is not beyond reproach for the shellacking Republicans received last week. And his voting record certainly leaves much to be desired. But who are the choices?
The other candidates running for the coveted No. 3 position are Jim Banks (R., Ind.) and Drew Ferguson (R., Ga.). Ferguson has a poor rapport with current House Republican leadership, so he probably isn’t a viable option. And Banks, a favorite of Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump Jr., is certainly the wrong person for the job.
Since taking the helm of the Republican Study Committee, founded to serve as a conservative check on the party’s establishment, Banks has failed in this role. Instead of championing conservatism and challenging the ossified consensus within the caucus, Banks has heralded Trumpism as the future and absolved Trump of blame for the GOP’s poor midterm performance. But contrary to the excuses of his apologists, Trump’s brand of populist nationalism is precisely why the GOP didn’t meet expectations this cycle. So choosing Banks would be the political equivalent of an alcoholic reaching for the bottle after a terrible bender.
Recognizing what went wrong is the first step toward breaking free from addiction, and going cold turkey is the only way forward. Failing to do so will further debilitate the party and keep it bogged down in this quagmire of its own making. Emmer is far from perfect. But whereas he is just what you might call a “generic R,” Banks is all-in on a Trumpian future for the GOP. Emmer will have to do in light of the MAGA alternative.