Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) said he was “disappointed” after former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost his primary and resigned because it was a loss for the state’s congressional leadership.
“As governor, I had the Majority Leader and, potentially, the Speaker of the United States of America as a member of my congressional delegation,” McAuliffe told radio host John Catsimatidis in an interview to air Sunday on New York’s 970 AM. “Personally, I was disappointed that Eric lost.”
{mosads}Cantor became the first House majority leader to ever lose a primary when he fell to Tea Party challenger David Brat in June.
When Catsimatidis told the governor that some people blamed him for Cantor’s stunning defeat, McAuliffe said he’s not at fault.
McAuliffe said at the time of Cantor’s fall, Virginia’s economy was thriving and has since been named one of the best states for business in Forbes Magazine.
“They shouldn’t blame me,” he explained. “I don’t think he got back to his district enough, it’s a very anti-incumbency mood.