Path to Power
Cantor grew up in a wealthy family in Richmond, Va. His parents were both involved in the community; his father sat on the Housing Authority Board, and his mother was on the boards at the Family and Children’s Trust Fund and the Science Museum of Virginia.
As a student at George Washington University, Cantor interned for then-Rep. Thomas Bliley (R-Va.), serving as his driver for his 1982 campaign. He went on to chair some of Bliley’s re-election efforts. In his senior year, he worked for a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.
After earning a law degree from William and Mary Law School and a master’s degree in real estate from Columbia University, he took a job at his family’s real-estate firm in Richmond.
Virginia and U.S. House
When his old state House boss retired in 1991, Cantor ran to replace him. He out-organized and out-raised his rivals even though he was only 28 years old.
In the state House, Cantor frequently sided with business, passing bills that limited the amount of money Virginia-based Philip Morris was required to pay in tobacco lawsuits and killing legislation that would have reduced telemarketing calls.
In 2000, he decided to run for Bliley’s seat after his House retirement. He faced a challenging primary from a state senator who charged that Cantor was an elitist who didn’t understand the problems of his constituents. Cantor struck back, out-spending his rival by almost four to one.
Just weeks before the election, voters began receiving phone calls highlighting Cantor’s Judaism. The calls tightened the race significantly — Cantor won by only 263 votes.
Cantor prevailed in the general election with 67 percent of the vote.
GOP House Leadership
In 2002, Blunt handpicked Cantor to serve as chief deputy whip at the end of his first term. According to Cantor, the selection was a total surprise. He told the Weekly Standard that when Blunt called to offer him the job, he thought he was calling about an opening on the Ways and Means committee.
Like many Republicans, Cantor was caught up in the Jack Abramoff scandals. In 2003, he and other Republicans signed on to a letter to Interior Secretary Gale Norton opposing a plan by Jena Band of Choctaw Indians to open a casino nearby another one owned by the Coushattas, an Abramoff client.
Abramoff also raised $30,000 for Cantor, who has since given $10,000 to charity. He had even named a sandwich at his kosher deli after.
In 2006, Blunt temporarily took over the majority leader post because former Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) stepped down due to a Texas campaign finance lawsuit. Cantor became the whip in everything but name.
Blunt ran for (and expected to win) the majority leader slot, so Cantor was favored to move up to whip. But Blunt lost to Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) and kept his old job, leaving Cantor in his current position.
But officials rewarded Cantor by naming him to the House GOP’s “battleground” fundraising committee, which raised $25 million for Republicans in tight 2006 races, almost $4 million more than in the 2004 cycle.
In 2007, he was National Republican Congressional Committee finance chairman. Though he has faced only nominal opposition for his own seat since 2000, he has raised more than $9 million for his personal campaign coffers.
Cantor is a talented vote-counter. In 2007, he managed to keep most Republicans from supporting a Democratic war- funding bill. Only two Republicans supported the legislation, though 17 GOPers had voted for a non-binding resolution opposing the surge the week before.
In another instance, Cantor convinced many rank-and-file GOPers to support a campaign-finance bill targeting independent 527 groups and more earmark transparency.
Skilled Fundraiser
Cantor was a prodigious fundraiser in the 2008 cycle. Along with Reps. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), and Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), he launched a fundraising program to protect 17 GOP House incumbents and to win five open House seats. More than 50 GOP members agreed to donate at least $1,000 and to host a fundraiser on the candidates’ behalf.
Cantor personally campaigned in 80 to 90 House districts. Four of his “young guns” unseated incumbents and three secured open seats.
Cantor got his first taste of presidential politics in 2008. He endorsed McCain early, and proved to be one of his best congressional surrogates. He was also floated as a potential presidential running-mate, a move supported by several of the party’s more conservative members.
Cantor's opposition to the falln 2008 Wall Street bailout bill and his prodigious fundraising made him the obvious choice for minority whip once Blunt stepped down. He ran unopposed, and is widely popular.
In his new position, Cantor hopes to recreate the Republican image. He would like conservatives to think more practically and rely less on ideology. Additionally, he would like less acrimony with Democrats and bolder new ideas, he told The Washington Post.
Cantor was also encouraged to seek Virginia’s open Senate seat in 2008, but he wasn’t interested.
