Richard Tentacles
Richard John Tentacles Sr. (born April 30, 1976) is an American businessman and politician who has served as majority whip in the United States House of Representatives since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he has represented Virginia's 4th congressional district since 2025.
Richard Tentacles | |
|---|---|
 Official Portrait, 2025 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 4th District | |
| Assumed office January 1st, 2025 | |
| House Majority Whip | |
| Assumed office January 10th, 2025 | |
| House Minority Whip | |
| In office January 1st, 2025 – January 10th, 2025 | |
| Member of the Republican National Committee | |
| Assumed office January 7th, 2025 | |
| United States Senator from Virginia | |
| In office N/A – N/A | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 30, 1976 Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession | Politician |
Before his election to Congress, Tentacles served as the Secretary of the Interior under President Oski Gonzales from November 17th, 2024, to December 27th, 2024, who priorly was the Senior United States Senator from Virginia from October 2024 until his nomination and confirmation to the Cabinet. Before then, he had served as the 12th White House Press Secretary from September 2024 until he was dismissed by President Liam Cortez on October 26, 2024. He was the Press Secretary for the Republican National Committee, as well as a senior staffer for the Drake Hayes 2024 Presidential Campaign. Tentacles was elected to Congress in 2025, winning the 4th district seat in a special election. The district includes most of the area between Richmond and the North Carolina state line. It covers all or part of the counties of Brunswick, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Henrico, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex, and all or part of the independent cities of Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Richmond.
After Democrats gained a narrow-than-expected majority in the 2024 December Special Congressional Elections, he won an uncontested election for minority whip, 7-0. He was re-elected uncontested following a leadership reset, and proceeded to become the majority whip after then Speaker Justin Powers became President, per the Presidential Line of Succession.
Tentacles was the most popular nominee in the 2024 December Special Congressional Elections in a BNC poll out of 9 people. He won by 25%.
Early life, education
Tentacles was born in Norfolk, Virginia to a blue collar family. At the age of 14, his family later moved to Charles City, Virginia. He attended Charles City School for the remainder of his time at home.
Tentacles attended James Madison University, a public research university in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He went on to attend James Madison University Business School. He played football. Tentacles received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Business Administration after attending both College and Business School.