A fierce Israel defender, he will have broad control over the House of Representatives agenda
WASHINGTON (EJP)---The only Jewish Republican in the US Congress, Eric Cantor, is likely to become the new majority leader of the United States House of Representatives after his party made massive gains at Tuesday's midterm elections.
He will take over in January from Democrat Steny Hoyer.
Republicans needed 39 seats to gain the majority in the House, and reports suggest they have taken nearly 60, the largest shift since the 1940s. The Democrats managed to maintain their majority it the Senate.
As the Republican House majority leader, 47-year-old Cantor will have broad control over the chamber's agenda. Ohio Representative John Boehner is likely to be the House speaker.
As the senior Jewish Republican in national politics, and a fierce Israel defender, Cantor will likely place President Obama's Middle East policies under closer scrutiny, an aide predicts.
Cantor, who won the Virginia seat he has held since 2000, has been the minority whip since 2008. The Republican landslide victory means he is expected to step into a more influential role.
Cantor said about the elections result: "The result must be to return America to the land of opportunity, responsibility and success."
"We will get to work right away to reduce the deficit by cutting federal spending next year down to 2008 levels.”
"This administration's had 20 months, and all the promises that have been made about the most important issue, which is the economy, have been broken, and they are fed up, and they have a reason to be fed up."
Cantor was born in Richmond, Virginia. He graduated from the Collegiate School, earned a baccalaureate at George Washington University and a juris doctorate from William & Mary Law School. He also received a master of science degree from Columbia University.
Before entering politics, he worked for over a decade with his family's small business doing legal work and real estate development.
Following Barack Obama’s election in November 2008, Cantor stated that a stronger U.S.-Israel relationship remains a top priority for him and that he would be "very outspoken" if Obama "did anything to undermine those ties."
He said this relationship is "a constant reminder of the greatness of America".