David F. Emery

Dave Emery
House Republican Chief Deputy Whip
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1983
Leader	Bob Michel
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Tom Loeffler
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine's 1st district
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1983
Preceded by	Peter Kyros
Succeeded by	John McKernan
Personal details
Born	David Farnham Emery (1948-09-01) September 1, 1948 Rockland, Maine, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	Worcester Polytechnic Institute (BSc)

David Farnham Emery (born September 1, 1948) is an American politician from Maine. He served four terms as a Republican U.S. Representative from 1975 to 1983.

Early life and education

Emery grew up in Rockland before attending college at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he received a BS in electrical engineering in 1970. Upon graduating, he entered politics.

Political career

Maine House of Representatives

He served in the Maine House of Representatives 1970–1974 and was active in the Republican Party.

Congress

In 1974, Emery ran for the United States House of Representatives against incumbent Democrat Peter Kyros and won in an upset, one of only a handful of Republican gains in a year when Democrats gained 49 seats in the House of Representatives. He was reelected in 1976, 1978, and 1980.

He served as a member of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee for all four terms; on the Science and Technology Committee in the 94th congress (1975–1977); and on the House Armed Services Committee during the 95th, 96th and 97th Congresses (1977–1983). He was a member of the House Republican leadership during the 97th Congress, serving as Chief Deputy Republican Whip under Trent Lott.

1982 Senate campaign

In 1982, he ran for the U.S. Senate against Democratic Senator George J. Mitchell, a former Federal Judge who had been appointed to succeed Democrat Edmund Muskie, whom President Jimmy Carter had appointed as U.S. Secretary of State. Emery was initially thought to be the favorite, but he ran a highly critical campaign which made a negative impression, and Mitchell won the election with 61% of the vote. He would lose 15 of the 16 counties in the state, carrying only his native Knox County.

2005 campaign for governor

In 2005 he declared his candidacy for Governor of Maine in the 2006 election. He withdrew from the race upon the entrance of 2002 nominee Peter Cianchette, but following Cianchette's withdrawal, re-entered. In the Republican primary he came in last of the three candidates on the ballot, finishing behind State Senators Chandler Woodcock of Farmington and Peter Mills of Skowhegan. Woodcock, the nominee, lost to incumbent Democrat John Baldacci in the November 2006 general election. Emery was endorsed by U.S. Senator John McCain for Governor, who urged voters to vote for Emery in the primary.

Later life

Emery endorsed Mitt Romney for President in the 2012 election. He would cross party lines to endorse Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

In April 2011, Emery was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services by Governor of Maine Paul LePage. In August 2012, Emery resigned from the position with no explanation given.

In July 2016, Emery was chosen to run for a Maine State Senate seat against incumbent Democrat David Miramant of Camden. He was unsuccessful, receiving 48% of the vote to Miramant's 52%.

Emery is a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One.

References

• United States Congress. "David F. Emery (id: E000175)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.