U.S. Representative Eric Cantor, the majority leader of the Republican-controlled House, suffered a shocking defeat in a primary race for re-election to his congressional seat in Virginia Tuesday.
Cantor was soundly beaten by David Brat, an economics professor at a small college who was backed by the ultraconservative Tea Party movement.
Brat raised little money, but gained support from both voters and conservative media personalities by accusing Cantor of supporting a plan to grant illegal immigrants in the U.S. an easy path to citizenship, which opponents have criticized as an "amnesty."
Many political observers say Cantor's upset loss has scuttled any chance of passing legislation to reform the nation's immigration system.
Addressing his supporters Tuesday night, Cantor called his loss "disappointing" but stressed that he believes "there's opportunity around the next corner for all of us."