A political earthquake rattled Washington, D.C. last night: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was defeated in the VA-7 GOP primary. Cantor’s weak stance on immigration was a major factor in his downfall.
From the Richmond Times-Dispatch:
Dave Brat, an economics professor from Henrico County, stunned House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a Republican primary Tuesday night, a shocking defeat for the veteran congressman who appeared next in line to become speaker of the House.
Brat, a Randolph-Macon College professor with little name ID, toppled a Republican heavyweight who had not faced a close challenge since he was first elected in 2000.
“This is one of the most stunning upsets in modern American political history,” said Larry Sabato, head of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. “This is the base rebelling against the GOP leadership in Washington as represented by Eric Cantor.”
“I’m as stunned as anybody,” Sabato said. “I’ve yet to find one person nationally or in the state outside the Brat circle who thought Cantor would be beaten.”
Cantor’s loss could result in a death -blow having been dealt to any plans to pass amnesty in the House in Washington. The D.C. establishment is running scared.
