U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost his re-election bid, falling to Tea Party challenger David Brat in a Virginia Republican primary in one of the biggest upsets in modern congressional history.
The upset marks a shift in momentum in the intraparty power struggle between the small-government movement and Republicans closely aligned with the business community. In addition to Cantor, the Tea Party is seen as having the advantage in a June 24 runoff primary election between Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran and challenger Chris McDaniel.
