Eric Cantor Bio
Eric Ivan Cantor (born June 6, 1963) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 7th congressional district from 2001 until 2014. A Republican from Virginia, he rose through the ranks of House leadership to become House Majority Leader in 2011, the second-ranking position among House Republicans. After a stunning primary loss in 2014, Cantor left Congress and joined the financial sector as vice chairman of the investment bank Moelis & Company.
Early Life and Background
Eric Ivan Cantor was born in Richmond, Virginia, the second of three children of Mary Lee, a schoolteacher, and Eddie Cantor, who owned a real estate firm. His family had emigrated from Russia, Romania, and Latvia in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and he was raised in Conservative Judaism. His father served as the Virginia state treasurer for Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign, embedding the family in Republican politics from an early age.
Cantor graduated from Collegiate School, a co-educational private school in Richmond, in 1981. He then enrolled at George Washington University, where he worked as an intern and driver for House Republican Tom Bliley of Virginia during Bliley’s 1982 campaign. Cantor earned a Bachelor of Arts from George Washington University in 1985, a Juris Doctor from William & Mary Law School in 1988, and a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University in 1989.
Path to US Politics
Before running for office, Cantor worked in his family’s real estate business, gaining practical experience in the property sector. In 1991, he was elected unopposed to the Virginia House of Delegates for the 73rd district, beginning a decade-long career in state politics. He was re-elected in 1993 with 79 percent of the vote, and won re-election in 1995, 1997, and 1999 without facing opposition.
During his time in the Virginia House of Delegates, Cantor served on committees covering Science and Technology, Corporation Insurance and Banking, General Laws, Courts of Justice, and Claims, where he co-chaired the latter. In March 2000, with the backing of retiring Congressman Tom Bliley’s political organization, he declared his candidacy for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Bliley, setting the stage for his move to the national stage.
Eric Cantor Career
Early Career (1992-2000)
Cantor represented the 73rd district in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1992 until January 1, 2001. He chaired the campaigns of incumbent Republican Tom Bliley for six years, building the relationships and fundraising networks that would support his congressional bid. His 2000 Republican primary against state senator Steve Martin was decided by only 263 votes out of more than 40,000 cast, one of the narrowest margins in Virginia at the time.
House of Representatives Breakthrough (2001-2008)
Cantor was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, succeeding the retiring Tom Bliley by defeating Democratic nominee Warren A. Stewart by nearly 100,000 votes. Following his 2002 re-election, House Republican Whip Roy Blunt appointed Cantor to serve as Chief Deputy Republican Whip, the highest appointed position in the Republican caucus. In that role he coordinated votes and messages for House Republicans for six years.
On November 19, 2008, Cantor was unanimously elected Republican Whip for the 111th Congress, becoming the first member of either party from Virginia to hold the position of Party Whip. In this capacity he served as the second-ranking House Republican behind Minority Leader John Boehner. He was re-elected to his House seat in 2004 with 75.5 percent of the vote, in 2006 with 64 percent, and in 2008 with 63 percent, solidifying his standing in a strongly Republican district.
House Majority Leader Era (2011-2014)
When Republicans took control of the House in the 2010 midterms, Cantor became House Majority Leader at the start of the 112th Congress on January 3, 2011, remaining second-in-command to Speaker John Boehner. In that role he shepherded major legislation through the House, including the STOCK Act, signed into law by President Obama on April 4, 2012, and the JOBS Act, signed at a ceremony Cantor attended alongside Obama and entrepreneur Steve Case.
Cantor was also a co-founder of the Young Guns Program and a New York Times bestselling author, having co-written the book Young Guns: A New Generation of Conservative Leaders in 2010. He was a top Republican fundraiser, raising more than $30 million for the National Republican Congressional Committee, and a vocal advocate for small-business tax relief, including a proposed 20 percent tax cut for businesses with fewer than 500 employees.
Notable Events and Milestones
On June 10, 2014, Cantor lost the Republican primary to economics professor Dave Brat by 7,193 votes, a defeat widely described as one of the greatest political upsets in modern American politics. Internal campaign polls had shown him 30 points ahead, and he outspent Brat 40 to 1, but Tea Party-aligned voters and a low-turnout primary combined to topple the sitting House Majority Leader, the first to lose a primary since the position was created in 1899.
Eric Cantor Career Wins
Cantor compiled a long string of electoral victories across more than two decades in elected office. He won nine consecutive races in Virginia and federal politics, including a U.S. House primary decided by just 263 votes and a landslide general-election debut in 2000.
Virginia House of Delegates Highlights
Cantor won five elections to the Virginia House of Delegates between 1991 and 1999. His first victory in 1991 was uncontested, and he was re-elected in 1993 with 79 percent of the vote. His next three re-election bids in 1995, 1997, and 1999 were all unopposed, reflecting the strong local backing that fueled his later run for Congress.
Other Wins and Achievements
Cantor won seven U.S. House elections from 2000 to 2012, with vote shares ranging from 58 percent in 2012 to nearly 64 percent in 2008. His appointment as Chief Deputy Republican Whip in 2002, his unanimous election as Republican Whip in 2008, and his elevation to House Majority Leader in 2011 represented significant leadership milestones during his time in office.
Eric Cantor Family
Family Background and Political Lineage
Eric Cantor is the son of Eddie Cantor, a real estate firm owner who served as Virginia state treasurer for Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign, and Mary Lee Cantor, a schoolteacher. His parents’ engagement in Republican politics and small business shaped his early interest in public service and shaped the family connections that supported his first runs for office.
Personal Life
Cantor met his wife, Diana Marcy Fine, on a blind date, and they were married in 1989. The couple has three children: Evan, Jenna, and Michael. Diana Cantor is a lawyer, certified public accountant, and managing director at Emigrant Bank, and she previously served as the founding executive director of the Virginia College Savings Plan from 1996 to 2008.