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Eric Cantor loses Virginia Republican Party primary | Eric Cantor loses Virginia Republican Party primary |
(35 minutes 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%. |
"This is a miracle from God," Mr Brat said, as his allies among conservatives cheered the result. | "This is a miracle from God," Mr Brat said, as his allies among conservatives cheered the result. |
Mr Cantor had been widely favoured to win, having raised significantly more money than Mr Brat. | Mr Cantor had been widely favoured to win, having raised significantly more money than Mr Brat. |
But the election appears to have exposed dissatisfaction with Mr Cantor, first elected in 2000. | But the election appears to have exposed dissatisfaction with Mr Cantor, first elected in 2000. |
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. |
He also won despite the majority leader raising $5.4m (£3.2m) for his campaign. Mr Brat raised less than $300,000. | He also won despite the majority leader raising $5.4m (£3.2m) for his campaign. Mr Brat raised less than $300,000. |
As he conceded on Tuesday evening, Mr Cantor said the election was "disappointing, sure". | As he conceded on Tuesday evening, Mr Cantor said the election was "disappointing, sure". |
"But I believe in this country. I believe there's opportunity around the next corner for all of us." | "But I believe in this country. I believe there's opportunity around the next corner for all of us." |
Democrats jumped on the unexpected defeat as a positive sign for their own chances of regaining control of the House of Representatives this year. | Democrats jumped on the unexpected defeat as a positive sign for their own chances of regaining control of the House of Representatives this year. |
"Eric Cantor has long been the face of House Republicans' extreme policies, debilitating dysfunction and manufactured crises," Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement. | "Eric Cantor has long been the face of House Republicans' extreme policies, debilitating dysfunction and manufactured crises," Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement. |
"Tonight, is a major victory for the tea party as they yet again pull the Republican Party further to the radical right. As far as the midterm elections are concerned, it's a whole new ballgame.'' | "Tonight, is a major victory for the tea party as they yet again pull the Republican Party further to the radical right. As far as the midterm elections are concerned, it's a whole new ballgame.'' |
Analysis by Mark Mardell, BBC News, Washington | 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". | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. |
In a statement, the house speaker said Mr Cantor is a "a good friend and a great leader, and someone I've come to rely upon on a daily basis". | In a statement, the house speaker said Mr Cantor is a "a good friend and a great leader, and someone I've come to rely upon on a daily basis". |
Mr Brat will now face Democratic nominee Jack Trammell - also a professor at Randolph-Macon College - in November's general election. | |
Primary elections were staged in five states. In other results: | Primary elections were staged in five states. In other results: |