Electromagnetic (finite beta) effects on the toroidal electron temperature gradient mode have been investigated in terms of an electromagnetic semi-local kinetic dispersion relation. For this mode, finite beta is destabilizing, in contrast to the ion temperature gradient mode. However, a relatively steep temperature gradient, T = LT/R < 0.15, is required for the instability. The most unstable mode satisfies ω ≃ ωTe (the electron transit mode).