Eric Cantor

Eric Ivan Cantor (born June 6, 1963) is an American lawyer and former politician who represented <a href="/facts/Virginia%2527s_7th_congressional_district/PcyukqoQ">Virginia's 7th congressional district</a> in the <a href="/facts/United_States_House_of_Representatives/cdBPb9pY">United States House of Representatives</a> from 2001 to 2014. A <a href="/facts/Republican_Party_(United_States)/XXM1EVPr">Republican</a>, Cantor served as <a href="/facts/Party_whips_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives/dKBPzPbq">House Minority Whip</a> from 2009 to 2011, and as <a href="/facts/Party_leaders_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives/dKBPzPbq">House Majority Leader</a> from 2011 to 2014.
Prior to serving in the House of Representatives, Cantor represented the 73rd district in the <a href="/facts/Virginia_House_of_Delegates/298dt5ns">Virginia House of Delegates</a>. His congressional district included most of the northern and western sections of <a href="/facts/Richmond%2c_Virginia/RPT22L8B">Richmond</a>, along with most of Richmond's western suburbs, and until redistricting in 2013 also portions of the <a href="/facts/Shenandoah_Valley/JkrByRNE">Shenandoah Valley</a>.
In June 2014, in his bid for reelection, Cantor lost the Republican primary to economics professor <a href="/facts/Dave_Brat/6u3FVVfe">Dave Brat</a> in an upset that greatly surprised political analysts. In response, Cantor announced his early resignation as House Majority Leader. Several weeks later, he announced his resignation from Congress, which took effect on August 18, 2014. Shortly thereafter, Cantor accepted a position as vice chairman of investment bank <a href="/facts/Moelis_%2526_Company/vCWAorJS">Moelis & Company</a>. At the time of his resignation, Cantor was the highest-ranking Jewish member of <a href="/facts/United_States_Congress/mJlU46K7">Congress</a> in its history and the only non-Christian Republican in either house.

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Eric Cantor