Emmer and Demirjian to compete in the spelling bee Wednesday, Oct. 21

Representative Tom Emmer, R-Minn., will join the team of lawmakers on stage at the 2015 National Press Club "Politicians vs. Press" spelling bee on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Emmer, who took office earlier this year, was a competitive hockey player in college. He'll show how well he fares in a spelling contest alongside Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., Rep. Brad Ashford, D-Neb and Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Az.

Karoun Demirjian, foreign policy reporter for The Washington Post, has also signed on to participate in the spelling bee and will attempt to bring home a win for the journalists.

Doors open at 6 p.m. The program will begin at 7 p.m. A cash bar will be open throughout the evening.Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Buy tickets here.

The National Press Club held its first spelling bee in 1913, which saw a House member take the title of "The Best Speller in the United States.” In a centennial rematch in 2013, Kaine took home the trophy with the winning word “nonpareil.”

Demirjian will seek a victory for the journalists on a team that includes former Press Club president Angela Greiling Keane of Bloomberg News, David Kerley of ABC News, Rebecca Sinderbrand of The Washington Post, Rod Kuckro of E&E News and Yochi Dreazen of Foreign Policy.

Comedian Tim Young will kick off the event. Following the spelling bee, the all-90s cover band White Ford Bronco will rock an after party. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the National Press Club Journalism Institute.