For Tea Party rebels, June 10, 2014, was the equivalent of destroying the Death Star. An unknown college professor named Dave Brat challenged the sitting Majority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Since the position was created, no incumbent majority leader had ever been defeated in a primary, and Eric Cantor was considered invulnerable. Mr. Cantor’s war chest was counted in the millions, while challenger Brat’s campaign account was measured in thousands.
But Mr. Cantor had grown too secure in his job, too complacent and too out of touch with his district. And on that June day almost two years ago, the political world was shocked with Virginia’s 7th Congressional District voters removed Mr. Cantor.
Since Mr. Brat took office, he has done something that is simply shocking in modern political circles. He has kept his word. He has voted exactly as he promised he would.
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Conservatives have wondered how the establishment would try to strike back against Mr. Brat. Now they no longer have to wonder. Henrico County Sheriff Mike Wade, fresh off of re-election to his cushy job, has announced he will challenge Mr. Brat in the primary.
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Zach Werrell was Dave Brat’s campaign manager in the 2014 primary. He has written a fantastic book about the campaign called “How to bag a RINO: The Whiz Kids Who Brought Down House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.” Mr. Werrell isn’t shocked by the developments. A RINO is, of course, a Republican In Name Only.
Mr. Werrell says, “I cannot say I am shocked. In fact, this has been the worst kept secret in Virginia for months now. There is nothing more dangerous to the GOP (GOP Establishment) and RINOs everywhere than a congressman who runs on, then sticks to his conservative principles. Mike Wade, who has long been the ‘enforcer’ for the Cantor Machine and literally just won reelection as Sheriff two months ago, blatantly lied to the voters when he ran for reelection on a platform of seeing through his many initiatives. The only thing Wade could have against Dave is that he is a man of his word, and is too honest to remain in Congress. That, and his name isn’t ‘Eric Cantor‘.”
Many people in the 7th District believe Mr. Wade was put up to running by Eric Cantor. Mr. Wade has denied this.
Mr. Brat is taking his challenger seriously — much more seriously than Eric Cantor took his.
On Jan. 9th, the Republicans of the 7th Congressional District will meet to determine whether the nomination process for this year’s election will be a convention or a primary. Mr. Brat has requested a convention, which would be much friendlier to conservatives and prevent crossover voting from Democrats.
