# Down Goes Eric Cantor **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 11, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516 "2014-06-11T00:05:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BDBoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@BDBoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDBoop)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/61 "2014-06-11T02:08:51Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Please, give us Speaker Louie Gohmert. Pretty please? He’s gonna have to work on showing up more often, methinks. > [@](#): > > From Jan 2005 to Jun 2014, Gohmert missed 570 of 7,266 roll call votes, which is 7.8%. This is worse than the median of 2.4% among the lifetime records of representatives currently serving. The chart below reports missed votes over time. [https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/louie\_gohmert/400651](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/louie_gohmert/400651) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/62 "2014-06-11T02:10:48Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Can’t link to it now, but it seems Cantor’s internal polling had him up by something like 34 points. That would lead me to believe this was Democrats crossing over to screw with the election. Or he was indulging in the Republican habit of “unskewing” polls. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/63 "2014-06-11T02:14:23Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Lindsey Graham is definitely endangered though, and I’d hate to lose him. He’s one of the good guys. Wait. Lindsey Graham is a man? …What? Too obvious? 😉 On a serious note, Cantor losing his seat was definitely a shocker. Not that I am torn apart about it. I always had the impression he was just playing to trogs in his party. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/64 "2014-06-11T02:15:12Z")
A sad day for the Grand 'Ol Party. Vox: “In 2012, Eric Cantor won the general election with more than 220,000 votes. With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Brat is winning with about 33,000 votes. It’s possible and even likely that the vast majority of Republicans in Virginia’s 7th District liked Cantor just fine. But primaries only count the people who come out to vote.” I shed tears. Crocodile tears. Explainer at Vox: [11 political lessons from Eric Cantor’s loss - Vox](http://www.vox.com/2014/6/10/5798604/Eric-Cantor-David-Brat-loss-VA-politics) I am surprised. I am not shocked. The Republicans have a pretty serious data problem which is to say a reality problem. Cantor’s internal polling had him up by 30 points. In other news, last year Virginia initiated [The Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/31/1235411/-New-Approach-to-Voter-Suppression-in-Virginia), and dropped 350,000 voters from the rolls, with highly dubious accuracy. I wonder if this affected the race. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/65 "2014-06-11T02:29:53Z")
Holy. Fucking. Shit. I am gobsmacked. Never thought this would happen. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/66 "2014-06-11T02:34:46Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Well, the guy’s a professor of economics, and it certainly shows that the Tea party still has some clout. A professor of economics and business who _still_ thinks [raising the debt ceiling means increasing spending](http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2014/06/eric-cantor-dave-brat-what-happened). > [@psychobunny](#): > > I’m not so sure having a TP candidate represent my state is a good thing. Much as I dislike Cantor-this other guy will likely win the election and then where will we be? Better off. At least this schmoe won’t hold any power in Congress and likely won’t sit on any committees. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/67 "2014-06-11T02:34:48Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Cantor’s internal polling had him up by 30 points. That just makes me laugh even harder. The fact his campaign put their faith in polls that were so wrong makes me wonder if Cantor and our dear **adaher** are the same person. Seriously, has anyone here actually seen them in the same room? Or thread? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/68 "2014-06-11T02:42:30Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > One not so fun fact: If there is no write in or he gives it up, the Republican party lost its only Jewish member of Congress. Good. G-d save us (Jews) from Jews in power. ---
**Author:** ![EndlessEntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f9ae1b/32.png) [@EndlessEntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EndlessEntropy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/69 "2014-06-11T02:44:00Z")
Anyone remember Christine O’Donnell losing to Chris Coons? It’s interesting because the election was pretty similar- TP backed O’Donnell defeated the more liberal incumbent republican then lost the general election to the democrats. I wonder if this will have the same ending. ---
**Author:** ![BDBoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@BDBoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDBoop)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/70 "2014-06-11T02:44:03Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Good. G-d save us (Jews) from Jews in power. Tell me more, tell me more. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/71 "2014-06-11T02:46:51Z")
I have family from that district. They’re Democrats but they voted in the Republican Party to support Brat. They were, along with other Democrats encouraged to do this by Ben Jones(AKA Cooter from the Dukes of Hazzard). ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/72 "2014-06-11T02:51:14Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > I have family from that district. They’re Democrats but they voted in the Republican Party to support Brat. > > They were, along with other Democrats encouraged to do this by Ben Jones(AKA Cooter from the Dukes of Hazzard). That just makes it all the more hilarious. Specially with the tea partiers celebrating like they just got voted prom queen when it was really just a joke by the popular kids. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/73 "2014-06-11T02:54:44Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > I have family from that district. They’re Democrats but they voted in the Republican Party to support Brat. > > They were, along with other Democrats encouraged to do this by Ben Jones(AKA Cooter from the Dukes of Hazzard). _The Balladeer:_ “This is Bo Duke and Luke Duke. They’re cousins. They fight the system.” ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/74 "2014-06-11T03:09:01Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Good. G-d save us (Jews) from Jews in power. Some of us (Jews) were embarrassed by him. [Eric Cantor: A debt ceiling shonda](http://www.salon.com/2011/07/22/eric_cantor_takiff/) And this Jew is damn glad he’s not there (mis)representing us anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/75 "2014-06-11T03:22:30Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Well, the guy’s a professor of economics, and it certainly shows that the Tea party still has some clout. > > Brat won with only $40,000 compared to Cantor’s $2 million. > > Amazing, that’s all I can say. I didn’t have anything against Cantor. I certainly wasn’t rooting for his defeat. But it’s still cool to see someone come out of nowhere to beat an entrenched incumbent. Actually, Brat spent $200,000 and Cantor spent $5,000,000. /nitpick ---
**Author:** ![A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_nice_guy_with_an_opinion)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/76 "2014-06-11T03:26:14Z")
So the racist right didn’t vote for cantor because he is Jewish was an early spin, and now the Tea Party is stupid because they think they still have influence, when it was just Dems that were super smart and swayed the vote by voting in the Rep primaries. Sounds about right. Hey, why not make this an ultimate win for the left? What else could it possibly be? \*Cue the Jewish is not a race thingy. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/77 "2014-06-11T03:38:39Z")
Did anybody catch Brat’s victory speech? There was a part in which he said “this day is the happiest day of my life. Obviously.” Hmmm…victory _sex_ not happening with his _wife_ tonight. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![2ManyTacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/3da27b/32.png) [@2ManyTacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2ManyTacos)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/78 "2014-06-11T03:48:39Z")
This makes me so happy; I absolutely couldn’t stand Cantor. Good riddance. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/79 "2014-06-11T03:49:45Z")
This may be a huge victory for the Tea Party, but it is bad news nationally for Republicans. Here in Colorado, both Gov. John Hickenlooper and Sen. Mark Udall were vulnerable, but if Republicans have to stay away from immigration reform, which they will, it means both will be reelected. Tom Tancredo may even win the Republican Governor’s primary, being the anti-immigration candidate, and the vast majority of Coloradoans _hate_ him. He’s only liked by right-wing radio hosts and listeners. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516/80 "2014-06-11T04:07:03Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > The Dem is Mike Dickinson. Anyone know anything about him? I can’t find much online. > > Apparently [this is a district where only one Dem has won a U.S. House or Senate election since 1996.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia%27s_7th_congressional_district#Voting) You are not finding much because you seem to be spelling the name wrong. Try “Jack Trammell”, though I doubt spelling it correctly will help much. It seems that these two guys are both professors at the same college. Trammell was apparently tossed in there so that the Ds would have somebody on the ballot. Also, Brat will have to fend off James Carr, running as a Glibertarian. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/down-goes-eric-cantor/690516.md?page=5)