Cantor to Run for No. 2 Position in House GOP

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) will run for House Minority Whip in the next Congress, a source close to the lawmaker told The Hill Wednesday.

Cantor, Republicans’ Chief Deputy Whip in the House, will challenge Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) for the position.

The shake-up marks the beginning of a reshuffling of House Republican leadership after last night’s losses to Democrats in congressional districts throughout the country.

Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) announced his retirement as head of the House Republican Conference. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex.), Chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, is expected to seek Putnam’s position, the third-ranking position in the GOP caucus.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) has indicated he will again look to head up House Republicans’ efforts in next year’s Congress.

–Michael O’Brien