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| Republican rebels mount swift power grab after shock defeat of Eric Cantor | Republican rebels mount swift power grab after shock defeat of Eric Cantor |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Republicans were in the grip of an intense power battle on Wednesday as rival factions in in the House of Representatives, which the party controls, jockeyed to replace the outgoing majority leader Eric Cantor. | Republicans were in the grip of an intense power battle on Wednesday as rival factions in in the House of Representatives, which the party controls, jockeyed to replace the outgoing majority leader Eric Cantor. |
| Cantor, whose defeat in a primary Tuesday stunned the political establishment, announced in a Wednesday afternoon press conference that he plans to stand down as majority leader before the end of July. | |
| "Growing up in the Jewish faith... you learn a lot about individual setbacks.You learn that each setback is an opportunity, and that there's always optimism for the future," he said. "And while I may have suffered a personal setback last night, I couldn't be more optimistic about the future of this country." | |
| Even before news of Cantor's departure leaked, the battle to succeed him was under way, laying bare the deep fissures tearing the GOP apart. | |
| Cantor could technically have held onto his role – the second most senior Republican position in the House – until his term ends in December, but his defeat at the hands of a virtually-unknown candidate left his credibility in tatters. | Cantor could technically have held onto his role – the second most senior Republican position in the House – until his term ends in December, but his defeat at the hands of a virtually-unknown candidate left his credibility in tatters. |
| David Brat, an economics professor at a local college, beat Cantor for the Republican nomination in Virginia's seventh congressional district on Tuesday. | David Brat, an economics professor at a local college, beat Cantor for the Republican nomination in Virginia's seventh congressional district on Tuesday. |
| Chief whip Kevin McCarthy, the third-ranking Republican in the House, is expected to run to replace Cantor. But Republican sources said that Texan Pete Sessions had already made it clear he is considering a rival bid. | Chief whip Kevin McCarthy, the third-ranking Republican in the House, is expected to run to replace Cantor. But Republican sources said that Texan Pete Sessions had already made it clear he is considering a rival bid. |
| Other rightwing factions, including Tea Party-aligned congressmen keen to translate the upset of Cantor into their gain in the upper ranks of the GOP, appeared to be coalescing around Jeb Hensarling, another Texan. | Other rightwing factions, including Tea Party-aligned congressmen keen to translate the upset of Cantor into their gain in the upper ranks of the GOP, appeared to be coalescing around Jeb Hensarling, another Texan. |
| "I am humbled by the many people who have approached me about serving our Republican Conference in a different capacity in the future," Hensarling said in a statement to reporters. "There are many ways to advance the causes of freedom and free enterprise, and I am prayerfully considering the best way I can serve in those efforts." | "I am humbled by the many people who have approached me about serving our Republican Conference in a different capacity in the future," Hensarling said in a statement to reporters. "There are many ways to advance the causes of freedom and free enterprise, and I am prayerfully considering the best way I can serve in those efforts." |
| Asked if he planned to run to be majority leader, Paul Ryan, the former Republican vice-presidential candidate, replied: "I'm not interested." | Asked if he planned to run to be majority leader, Paul Ryan, the former Republican vice-presidential candidate, replied: "I'm not interested." |
| If McCarthy vacates his chief whip role, that will open up another powerful position in the party's leadership. Another member from the right of the GOP, Steve Scalise, is eyeing the chief whip role, according to the same Republican sources. | If McCarthy vacates his chief whip role, that will open up another powerful position in the party's leadership. Another member from the right of the GOP, Steve Scalise, is eyeing the chief whip role, according to the same Republican sources. |
| One described the jockeying in the senior ranks of the House Republican caucus, which could end up significantly altering the balance of power in the party, as "the new fight". | One described the jockeying in the senior ranks of the House Republican caucus, which could end up significantly altering the balance of power in the party, as "the new fight". |
| On the Hill, the GOP appeared under siege, as members huddled in offices to strategise, avoided making public comment, and scurried along corridors to avoid questions from reporters. | On the Hill, the GOP appeared under siege, as members huddled in offices to strategise, avoided making public comment, and scurried along corridors to avoid questions from reporters. |
| National Tea Party groups were not heavily involved in the Virginia race, leaving Brat to draw much of his pre-election support from conservative radio hosts like Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin, who nonetheless align themselves with the Tea Party. But Brat's win is a startling achievement for the conservative wing of the GOP, and it will provide new momentum for a Tea Party movement that, just a few weeks ago, was being written off after its candidates failed to win in a handful of challenges to lesser politicians. | National Tea Party groups were not heavily involved in the Virginia race, leaving Brat to draw much of his pre-election support from conservative radio hosts like Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin, who nonetheless align themselves with the Tea Party. But Brat's win is a startling achievement for the conservative wing of the GOP, and it will provide new momentum for a Tea Party movement that, just a few weeks ago, was being written off after its candidates failed to win in a handful of challenges to lesser politicians. |
| Earlier this primary season, Tea Party-aligned candidates lost a series of high-profile battles, including in Georgia, North Carolina and Kentucky, where there was a failed attempt to overthrow the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell. In House primaries, the Tea Party appeared to have had even less success – its only notable victory was against a 91-year-old incumbent in Texas, Ralph Hall. | Earlier this primary season, Tea Party-aligned candidates lost a series of high-profile battles, including in Georgia, North Carolina and Kentucky, where there was a failed attempt to overthrow the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell. In House primaries, the Tea Party appeared to have had even less success – its only notable victory was against a 91-year-old incumbent in Texas, Ralph Hall. |
| There were one or two exceptions –rightwinger Ben Sasse won the party's nomination in Nebraska, and in Mississippi, Chris McDaniel forced the incumbent Thad Cochran into a runoff. | There were one or two exceptions –rightwinger Ben Sasse won the party's nomination in Nebraska, and in Mississippi, Chris McDaniel forced the incumbent Thad Cochran into a runoff. |
| Still, party bosses believed the waning influence of conservative groups was beginning to show on the floor of the House, too, where there were a host of bills in which Republicans appeared to be ignoring the demands of influential conservative groups like the Club for Growth and Heritage Action. | Still, party bosses believed the waning influence of conservative groups was beginning to show on the floor of the House, too, where there were a host of bills in which Republicans appeared to be ignoring the demands of influential conservative groups like the Club for Growth and Heritage Action. |
| Just last week, a senior House Republican told the Guardian: "We're not yet out of the danger zone. But if Tea Party guys continue to lose at the ballot box, and on the floor of the House, they're going to either have to reform or die." | Just last week, a senior House Republican told the Guardian: "We're not yet out of the danger zone. But if Tea Party guys continue to lose at the ballot box, and on the floor of the House, they're going to either have to reform or die." |
| Now that consensus has been turned on its head, and the national consequences of that shift are likely to reverberate way beyond the immediate battle to replace Cantor as House majority leader. | Now that consensus has been turned on its head, and the national consequences of that shift are likely to reverberate way beyond the immediate battle to replace Cantor as House majority leader. |
| Early talk about those consequences has focused on immigration reform, with the perception that Cantor – despite public pronouncements to the contrary – might support such legislation, against the wishes of many in the Republican base. But Brat insisted his win was more than just a protest vote over immigration reform. | Early talk about those consequences has focused on immigration reform, with the perception that Cantor – despite public pronouncements to the contrary – might support such legislation, against the wishes of many in the Republican base. But Brat insisted his win was more than just a protest vote over immigration reform. |
| “Immigration is a part [of my platform], but I ran on fiscal issues,” he told MSNBC in an interview. | “Immigration is a part [of my platform], but I ran on fiscal issues,” he told MSNBC in an interview. |
| “Amnesty [for undocumented migrants] was a clear differentiator between myself and Eric Cantor, because it fits into the narrative that Eric has not been present in the district, and was out of touch – he was supporting the Chamber of Commerce agenda on that one.” | “Amnesty [for undocumented migrants] was a clear differentiator between myself and Eric Cantor, because it fits into the narrative that Eric has not been present in the district, and was out of touch – he was supporting the Chamber of Commerce agenda on that one.” |
| Some mainstream Republicans have dismissed the Virginia result as a fluke, and in some instances have blamed a Democratic dirty tricks campaign for flooding the primary election with voters aimed at disrupting GOP election chances by backing a more extreme candidate. | Some mainstream Republicans have dismissed the Virginia result as a fluke, and in some instances have blamed a Democratic dirty tricks campaign for flooding the primary election with voters aimed at disrupting GOP election chances by backing a more extreme candidate. |
| But although turnout in the open primary was 28 per cent higher than normal, Cantor’s total vote dropped from 37,698 in 2012 to 28,898 and Brat did best in heavily Republican precincts. | But although turnout in the open primary was 28 per cent higher than normal, Cantor’s total vote dropped from 37,698 in 2012 to 28,898 and Brat did best in heavily Republican precincts. |
| Independent local commentators also pointed to the defeat of Cantor’s pick to chair the party’s district committee this spring as a sign that the revolt had been brewing for some time. | Independent local commentators also pointed to the defeat of Cantor’s pick to chair the party’s district committee this spring as a sign that the revolt had been brewing for some time. |
| “Cantor represents what people don’t like about Washington,” University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias told the Guardian. “I think they perceive him as the Washington establishment … I think he lost touch with a number of his constituents | “Cantor represents what people don’t like about Washington,” University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias told the Guardian. “I think they perceive him as the Washington establishment … I think he lost touch with a number of his constituents |
| Open contributions: How much does Cantor's defeat matter? | Open contributions: How much does Cantor's defeat matter? |
| Still, party bosses believed the waning influence of conservative groups was beginning to show on the floor of the House, too, where there were a host of bills in which Republicans appeared to be ignoring the demands of influential conservative groups like the Club for Growth and Heritage Action. | Still, party bosses believed the waning influence of conservative groups was beginning to show on the floor of the House, too, where there were a host of bills in which Republicans appeared to be ignoring the demands of influential conservative groups like the Club for Growth and Heritage Action. |
| Just last week, a senior House Republican told the Guardian: "We're not yet out of the danger zone. But if Tea Party guys continue to lose at the ballot box, and on the floor of the House, they're going to either have to reform or die." | Just last week, a senior House Republican told the Guardian: "We're not yet out of the danger zone. But if Tea Party guys continue to lose at the ballot box, and on the floor of the House, they're going to either have to reform or die." |
| Now that consensus has been turned on its head, and the national consequences of that shift are likely to reverberate way beyond the immediate battle to replace Cantor as House majority leader. | Now that consensus has been turned on its head, and the national consequences of that shift are likely to reverberate way beyond the immediate battle to replace Cantor as House majority leader. |
| Early talk about those consequences has focused on immigration reform, with the perception that Cantor – despite public pronouncements to the contrary – might support such legislation, against the wishes of many in the Republican base. But Brat insisted his win was more than just a protest vote over immigration reform. | Early talk about those consequences has focused on immigration reform, with the perception that Cantor – despite public pronouncements to the contrary – might support such legislation, against the wishes of many in the Republican base. But Brat insisted his win was more than just a protest vote over immigration reform. |
| “Immigration is a part [of my platform], but I ran on fiscal issues,” he told MSNBC in an interview. | “Immigration is a part [of my platform], but I ran on fiscal issues,” he told MSNBC in an interview. |
| “Amnesty [for undocumented migrants] was a clear differentiator between myself and Eric Cantor, because it fits into the narrative that Eric has not been present in the district, and was out of touch – he was supporting the Chamber of Commerce agenda on that one.” | “Amnesty [for undocumented migrants] was a clear differentiator between myself and Eric Cantor, because it fits into the narrative that Eric has not been present in the district, and was out of touch – he was supporting the Chamber of Commerce agenda on that one.” |
| Some mainstream Republicans have dismissed the Virginia result as a fluke, and in some instances have blamed a Democratic dirty tricks campaign for flooding the primary election with voters aimed at disrupting GOP election chances by backing a more extreme candidate. | Some mainstream Republicans have dismissed the Virginia result as a fluke, and in some instances have blamed a Democratic dirty tricks campaign for flooding the primary election with voters aimed at disrupting GOP election chances by backing a more extreme candidate. |
| But although turnout in the open primary was 28 per cent higher than normal, Cantor’s total vote dropped from 37,698 in 2012 to 28,898 and Brat did best in heavily Republican precincts. | But although turnout in the open primary was 28 per cent higher than normal, Cantor’s total vote dropped from 37,698 in 2012 to 28,898 and Brat did best in heavily Republican precincts. |
| Independent local commentators also pointed to the defeat of Cantor’s pick to chair the party’s district committee this spring as a sign that the revolt had been brewing for some time. | Independent local commentators also pointed to the defeat of Cantor’s pick to chair the party’s district committee this spring as a sign that the revolt had been brewing for some time. |
| “Cantor represents what people don’t like about Washington,” University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias told the Guardian. “I think they perceive him as the Washington establishment … I think he lost touch with a number of his constituents.” | “Cantor represents what people don’t like about Washington,” University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias told the Guardian. “I think they perceive him as the Washington establishment … I think he lost touch with a number of his constituents.” |