 By the time Emmett left the House, Clements returned for his second non-consecutive term as governor when he waged a successful comeback against the man who had defeated him in 1982, then Attorney General Mark White.Since the late 20th century, conservative white voters have increasingly shifted from the Democratic Party into the Republican Party, supporting more candidates at the local and state as well as presidential level.During his state legislative tenure, Emmett chaired the House Energy Committee and sat as well on the Transportation Committee.