WASHINGTON – Just hours after suffering an astonishing defeat in his primary election, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is stepping down from his leadership post.
Cantor (R-Va.) was expected to officially announce his decision at a meeting of the House Republican conference Wednesday afternoon, multiple GOP members said. He’ll step down after July.
On Tuesday evening, Cantor was upset by little-known economics professor David Brat, who had strong Tea Party backing.
Brat knocked off the House’s No. 2 leader despite Cantor’s massive spending advantage — $5.4 million to $200,000.
Cantor’s shocking fall instantly put him in the situation of being a lame duck in Congress.
The news set off a free-for-all among Republicans to succeed him, as well as to fill the No. 3 leadership position in the party leadership structure.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the Republican whip, is already firmly committed to running to succeed Cantor, several colleagues said.
But he’ll face a challenge from other conservative members, including some who represent conservative “red” states – reflecting rank-and-file disgruntlement with leaders who hail from more Democratic or competitive states and might be more prone to compromise.
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), the House Rules Committee chairman and past head of the party’s campaign arm, told colleagues he’s running. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), the head of the conservative Republican Study Committee, also may run.
McCarthy’s move opens up a wide-open contest for party whip.
“I’m still trying to process this whole thing,” said Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio).
“I’m trying to get my arms around it.”
Tiberi told reporters both Peter Roskam, the chief deputy whip, and Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) are officially running for whip.
Other possibilities are Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-Wash.), the No. 4 Republican.
“With this, I think that you’re seeing a tectonic shift that’s really reflecting where the American people are. They’re moving to the right,” said Rep. John Fleming (R-La.).
“I’m just very sad for the country and for our conference,” said Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.). He said Cantor “took probably an undue amount of heat for the problems people perceive with Congress.”
“It was just a perfect storm,” said Rep. Robert Aderholdt (R-La.). “It’s really disconcerting to see [Cantor] lose.”