House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) officially announced today that he is resigning his leadership post following his stunning defeat last night in the Republican primary. Cantor lost his House seat to a Tea Party-backed challenger running further to his right.
"While I intend to serve out my term as a member of Congress from the 7th District of Virginia, effective July 31st I will be stepping down as Majority Leader," Cantor said. "It is with great humility that I do so, knowing the tremendous honor it has been to hold this position."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Well, I don't know who it is that will actually be running," Cantor said. "I can tell you that if my dear friend and colleague Kevin McCarthy does decide to run, I think he'd make an outstanding Majority leader, and I will be backing him with my full support."
Cantor also called for more constructive work between different kinds of people in Congress — likening it to his own marriage to his wife, who is in fact a lifelong Democrat.
"I've talked about my wife and I, almost married now 25 years. And believe me, we don't agree on everything. And we have managed to raise our family, have a wonderful marriage," said Cantor. "She has stood behind me throughout this public office stuff, and been a strong advocate for me, and not always believing in everything I believe in. But we have managed to raise our family and do well. I don't think that's too unlike life, I don't think it's too unlike the legislative arena, and I think more of that could probably be helpful."
-
Why is Trump backtracking on the Hyundai immigration raid?Today’s Big Question Backlash threatens investment in US manufacturing
-
The 9 restaurants to eat at this very momentThe Week Recommends They’re award-winning. Isn’t that reason enough?
-
Trump proposes ending quarterly earnings reportsSpeed Read The SEC would have to approve any changes
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclubSpeed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's illsSpeed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, StalloneSpeed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's viewSpeed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talkSpeed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposesspeed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wifespeed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
