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Eric Cantor loses Virginia Republican Party primary | Eric Cantor loses Virginia Republican Party primary |
(about 7 hours later) | |
US House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has lost a Virginia Republican Party primary election to a challenger from the hard-right Tea Party movement. | US House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has lost a Virginia Republican Party primary election to a challenger from the hard-right Tea Party movement. |
Little-known economics professor David Brat defeated the second-ranking House of Representatives member 56%-44%. | Little-known economics professor David Brat defeated the second-ranking House of Representatives member 56%-44%. |
Mr Brat's shock victory exposed conservative dissatisfaction with Mr Cantor, who was first elected in 2000. | Mr Brat's shock victory exposed conservative dissatisfaction with Mr Cantor, who was first elected in 2000. |
Mr Cantor had been widely favoured to win, having raising significantly more money than Mr Brat. | Mr Cantor had been widely favoured to win, having raising significantly more money than Mr Brat. |
But Mr Brat attacked Mr Cantor's record, including his support for some immigration reforms, and rallied enthusiastic members of the anti-tax, conservative populist Tea Party movement in the low-turnout race. | But Mr Brat attacked Mr Cantor's record, including his support for some immigration reforms, and rallied enthusiastic members of the anti-tax, conservative populist Tea Party movement in the low-turnout race. |
Analysis by Mark Mardell, BBC News, Washington | |
The defeat of the second-most-important Republican in the House at their hands is being variously described as an "apocalyptic moment" and "an earthquake". | |
I am not sure the Earth has moved for me, but it will make senior Republicans worry they are still on shaky ground. | |
The victory of the apparently underfunded and little known Prof David Brat will send a message. | |
The truth is the Tea Party are a force to be reckoned with still. | |
They've pushed their party to the right, dominated its council for years, and they won't go away after the mid-terms in November. | |
Tea Party victory - a harbinger | |
In a forewarning of trouble, last month Mr Cantor was booed at a meeting of Republican activists after a local party chairman whom he supported was removed in favour of a Tea Party candidate. | In a forewarning of trouble, last month Mr Cantor was booed at a meeting of Republican activists after a local party chairman whom he supported was removed in favour of a Tea Party candidate. |
A lawyer, Mr Cantor, 51, was first elected to Congress in 2000 after serving nine years in the Virginia House of Delegates. | A lawyer, Mr Cantor, 51, was first elected to Congress in 2000 after serving nine years in the Virginia House of Delegates. |
After the Tea Party emerged in 2009, he forged ties with the loose-knit movement, drawing on its support to help the Republicans take control of the House of Representatives the following year. | After the Tea Party emerged in 2009, he forged ties with the loose-knit movement, drawing on its support to help the Republicans take control of the House of Representatives the following year. |
Mr Cantor was seen as representing a more conservative counterweight to House Speaker John Boehner, seen by some in the Tea Party as too conciliatory to Democratic President Barack Obama. | Mr Cantor was seen as representing a more conservative counterweight to House Speaker John Boehner, seen by some in the Tea Party as too conciliatory to Democratic President Barack Obama. |
He was even viewed by some as possible successor to Mr Boehner. | He was even viewed by some as possible successor to Mr Boehner. |
Mr Brat will now face Democratic nominee Jack Trammell - also a professor at Randolph-Macon College - in this fall's general election. | Mr Brat will now face Democratic nominee Jack Trammell - also a professor at Randolph-Macon College - in this fall's general election. |
Primary elections were staged in five states. In other results: | Primary elections were staged in five states. In other results: |