It's the earthquake that rocked the GOP. In a year when mainstream Republicans have mostly bested tea party-backed challengers, a little-known and little-funded tea party challenger in Virginia's 7th Congressional District pulled the upset of the year, defeating House Majority Leader Eric Cantor by 10 percentage points. The victory by economics professor Dave Brat gives the tea party an instant jolt of energy, sends shock waves through Capitol Hill, shakes up the GOP House hierarchy -- as Cantor was seen by many as the next speaker -- and effectively kills any chance of immigration reform passing through the House any time soon.
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Cantor's loss shakes up GOP leadership, kills hope for immigration reform in House
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Challenger's win also gives jolt of energy to tea party movement
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Cantor's problem was that base grew distrustful of him, analyst says
In his victory speech, @placeholder told supporters, "Dollars do not vote -- you do."