Eric Cantor's defeat throws Republican leadership into 'total chaos'

House Republicans were scrambling Tuesday night to determine the fallout on their leadership team and governing agenda after House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was ousted in his GOP primary in Virginia‘s 7th district.

“I don’t know” was the most common refrain among shocked Republican members, senior House aides and GOP operatives when asked to assess the impact of Cantor’s defeat. The Virginian, the only Jewish Republican in Congress, was widely viewed as the heir apparent to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and for most of his political career was considered at the forefront of the more conservative party the GOP has become.