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US House majority leader Eric Cantor loses primary to Tea Party challenger US House majority leader Eric Cantor loses primary to Tea Party challenger
(35 minutes later)
The House majority leader, Eric Cantor, has lost the Republican nomination for his seat in Virginia, in a shock primary election defeat that may prove the biggest political upset of the year. The House majority leader, Eric Cantor, has lost the Republican nomination for his seat in Virginia in a shock primary election defeat that may prove the biggest US political upset of the year.
The second most senior Republican in the House, who was tipped to take over from the speaker, John Boehner, was defeated in the surprise result by the Tea Party candidate David Brat. The second most senior Republican in the House, who had been tipped to take over from the speaker, John Boehner, was defeated in a surprise result by the Tea Party candidate David Brat.
With more than three-quarters of precincts reporting by shortly after 8pm, Associated Press predicted that Brat would comfortably take the seat, almost certainly forcing Cantor out of his position as a Washington powerbroker for the party. With more than three-quarters of precincts reporting by shortly after 8pm, Associated Press predicted that Brat would comfortably take the seat, almost certainly forcing Cantor out of his position as a top Washington powerbroker for the party.
It is possible, though unlikely, that Cantor could run as write-in candidate for the relatively safe Republican House seat in Virginia’s 8th district, which neighbours Richmond. It is possible, though unlikely, that Cantor could run as a write-in candidate for the relatively safe Republican House seat in Virginia’s 8th district, which neighbours Richmond.
His defeat by Brat, a relatively unknown economics professor, will send shockwaves through a party leadership that thought it had survived the 2014 primary election with relatively limited damage from the Tea Party. But his defeat by Brat, a relatively unknown economics professor, will send shockwaves through a party leadership that thought it had survived the 2014 primary election season with relatively limited damage from the Tea Party.
The clash between mainstream Republican leaders in Washington and more conservative Tea Party rivals has dominated US politics in recent years, leading to the government shutdown last year.The clash between mainstream Republican leaders in Washington and more conservative Tea Party rivals has dominated US politics in recent years, leading to the government shutdown last year.
The decision by Boehner and Cantor to face down the Tea Party wing was thought to have taken the momentum out of the upstart movement and a number of mainstream Senate incumbents had seen off recent primary challenges from the right. The decision by Boehner and Cantor to ultimately face down their Tea Party wing over its shutdown demands was thought to have taken the momentum out of the upstart movement and a number of mainstream Senate incumbents had recently seen off primary challenges from the right.
Cantor, who was already seen as among the more conservative members of the House leadership, had been widely expected to win his primary comfortably and had heavily outspent his opponent with a relatively negative campaign pointing out Brat’s lack of experience. In Tuesday’s primary election in South Carolina, for example, Senator Lindsey Graham comfortably beat six separate Tea Party challengers and avoided a run-off election by gaining more than 50% of the vote.
Cantor, who was already seen as among the more conservative members of the House leadership, had been widely expected to win his primary comfortably. He heavily outspent his opponent with a relatively negative campaign pointing out Brat’s lack of experience.
But Brat successfully criticised Cantor’s support for immigration reform and financial compromise efforts such as extending the debt ceiling and budget authority – factors that are likely to send a chill through attempts to bridge the already deep divide between Republicans and Democrats in Washington.But Brat successfully criticised Cantor’s support for immigration reform and financial compromise efforts such as extending the debt ceiling and budget authority – factors that are likely to send a chill through attempts to bridge the already deep divide between Republicans and Democrats in Washington.
Speaking as the official results showed Brat ahead by 55% to 45%, Cantor told supporters in a Richmond hotel ballroom: “I know there’s a lot of long faces here tonight. It’s disappointing, sure. But I believe in this country. I believe there’s opportunity around the next corner for all of us.”Speaking as the official results showed Brat ahead by 55% to 45%, Cantor told supporters in a Richmond hotel ballroom: “I know there’s a lot of long faces here tonight. It’s disappointing, sure. But I believe in this country. I believe there’s opportunity around the next corner for all of us.”
Internal polling by Cantor’s team ahead of the election had shown him ahead by some 34%.Internal polling by Cantor’s team ahead of the election had shown him ahead by some 34%.
A spokeswoman for House Democrats claimed on Tuesday evening that the result showed Republican voters were rejecting the House Republican agenda. A spokeswoman for House Democrats claimed on Tuesday evening that the result showed Republican voters were rejecting the House Republican agenda:
Virginia's rejection of Eric Cantor is a rejection of House Republicans' agenda. #VA07
Yet the result may all but guarantee that Democrat priorities such as immigration reform will not pass the Republican-controlled House in future as its leaders seek to deter future Tea Party challenges.
Brat received relatively little help from national Tea Party groups and was outspent by $5.2m to $120,000 by Cantor, according to FEC data up to 21 May. His win shows the continued strength of grassroots feeling against Washington establishment candidates, a mood that may yet dominate the rest of Obama’s second term in the White House.
In November’s election for the House seat, Brat will face Democratic nominee Jack Trammell, also a professor at Randolph-Macon College on the outskirts of Richmond.
Virginia's rejection of Eric Cantor is a rejection of House Republicans' agenda. #VA07Virginia's rejection of Eric Cantor is a rejection of House Republicans' agenda. #VA07