U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer faces his first serious Republican primary challenge in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District since winning the seat in 2014, with two candidates—Marine veteran Michael Foley and returning challenger Chris Corey—set to compete in the August 11, 2026 primary.
Emmer, who has represented the district since 2015, secured the Republican Party’s endorsement in May with 91.2% of the first-ballot vote at the district convention. However, both Foley and Corey chose to bypass the endorsement and continue their campaigns into the primary.
Foley, a 40-year-old from Elk River, is a Marine Corps veteran and chemical engineer running on a platform of restoring accountability and ending what he describes as “politics-as-usual.” According to his campaign materials, he argues that Washington’s dysfunction has left working families behind and pledges to focus on affordability, healthcare, and small business support rather than special interests.
Corey, a Big Lake resident, is mounting a second consecutive challenge to Emmer. In 2024, Corey received 12.8% of the Republican primary vote, losing to Emmer’s 87% majority. He declined to honor this year’s party endorsement and filed to run again.
Emmer’s previous primary victories have been decisive. Before Corey’s 2024 challenge, Emmer had faced either no serious primary opposition or won by margins exceeding 80-90%, according to campaign records. The emergence of two challengers represents a notable shift in a district that has been reliably Republican, with Cook Political Report, DDHQ/The Hill, Inside Elections, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball all rating the seat as solid to safe Republican territory.
The primary takes place on August 11. Early voting is already underway, with in-person voting available through August 10. The winner will advance to face Democrat Doug Chapin, a Hanover attorney and election-law expert, in the November 3 general election. Chapin secured the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsement unopposed in April and will proceed directly to the general election.
Sources
- Ballotpedia — Candidate profiles, primary date, and endorsement percentages for Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District Republican primary
- Hometown Source — Emmer’s convention endorsement vote share, Foley’s background as Marine and engineer, Corey’s 2024 primary performance and return candidacy
- St. Cloud Times — Foley’s age, residence, and military service details
- Minnesota Secretary of State — Primary election date and voting timeline
