Presidential races

Eric Cantor to endorse Bush

by Ben Kamisar 08/27/15 05:05 PM ET

Former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor will endorse Jeb Bush’s presidential bid and join his campaign as a Virginia co-chair, Bush’s campaign confirmed to The Hill.

{mosads}A source close to Cantor added that the former majority leader will appear alongside Bush during a Thursday night fundraiser in Richmond, before joining him again Friday morning during a town hall at a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Norfolk.

“Governor Bush is a true conservative leader with a long-term vision for this country and the practical know how to implement it,” Cantor said in a statement released by the Bush campaign.

“After eight years of anemic growth and declining international relevance, America needs a President that can re-energize our nation and recapture our greatness — Jeb Bush is that man. I look forward to working closely with the Governor and his team as they chart a course to the White House.”

The Virginia leadership team will also be co-chaired by Kay Coles James, former President George W. Bush’s Health and Human Services secretary, and former Virginia Lt. Gov. John Hager.

Politico first reported the endorsement.

Cantor endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the 2012 GOP primary.

Cantor had been seen as a rising star within the party, rocketing up the GOP leadership within the House and assuming the spot of majority leader 10 years after joining Congress. But a political unknown, now-Rep. David Brat, toppled him during the 2014 Republican primary election in one of the biggest surprises of the election cycle.

He stepped down as leader less than two months after his primary defeat, and resigned from Congress a few weeks later. He then joined Moelis & Co., an investment bank, where he serves in the bank’s senior leadership.