In a shocking victory that has sent a clear message to Republican candidates, Eric Cantor was defeated by Dave Brat, an economics professor, for the Republican spot on what is going to be a hotly contested general election this November.
Cantor is the current House Majority leader and an ardent foe of President Obama. Many experts have stated that what doomed Cantor in this election was his compromise with Obama on the debt ceiling crisis and government shutdown. Cantor did the right thing and negotiated with the Obama administration and leading democrats, but Tea Party voters were outraged. They felt that bargaining with Obama was a capitulation to conservative ideals and principles. The other major factor dealing a blow to Cantor was “white voter apathy.” Cantor supporters just did not go to the polls and it showed in his defeat.
In order for the Republican Party to keep control of the House it will take transformative figure that run on a reform campaign. Unfortunately, the reform in mind seems to be a return to states’ rights and a restriction in the power of the federal government. To that end, Dave Brat now becomes a rising star within the ultraconservative environment of a party in search of a direction. As an economics professor who now has a national stage, we will begin to see more of a gelling of Tea Party economics and social programs.
