Dave Brat

{{Short description|American academic and politician (born 1964)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Dave Brat

|image = Dave Brat official congressional photo.jpg

|caption = Official portrait, 2015

|state = Virginia

|district = {{ushr|VA|7|7th}}

|term_start = November 12, 2014

|term_end = January 3, 2019

|predecessor = Eric Cantor

|successor = Abigail Spanberger

|birth_name = David Alan Brat

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|7|27}}

|birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Republican

|spouse = {{marriage|Laura Sonderman|1996}}

|children = 2

|education = Hope College (BA)
Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv)
American University (PhD)

}}

David Alan Brat (born July 27, 1964) is an American academic and former politician. A member of the Republican Party, Brat served as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 7th congressional district from 2014 to 2019.

Brat came to national prominence when he defeated the U.S. House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor, in the 2014 Republican primary in Virginia's 7th congressional district. His primary victory, which he achieved with the support of the Tea Party movement, made Brat the first primary challenger to oust a sitting House Majority Leader since the position's creation in 1899.{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |date=2014-06-10 |title=Eric Cantor Defeated by David Brat, Tea Party Challenger, in G.O.P. Primary Upset |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/11/us/politics/eric-cantor-loses-gop-primary.html |url-access=subscription}} Brat went on to win the 2014 general election and was re-elected to Congress in 2016. During his congressional tenure, Brat was known as a conservative Republican and a member of the Freedom Caucus. He was defeated by Democrat Abigail Spanberger in the 2018 election.

In January 2019, Brat was named dean of the Liberty University School of Business.

Early life and education

David Alan Brat was born in Detroit, Michigan,{{cite news |author=Gary Robertson |date=May 2014 |url=http://www.richmondmagazine.com/articles/dave-brat-republican-primary.html?page=2 |title=News and Features |work=Richmond Magazine |access-date=June 12, 2014}} on July 27, 1964.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/article/533729|title=Virginia-7: Dave Brat (R)|work=nationaljournal.com|access-date=August 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620222721/http://www.nationaljournal.com/article/533729|archive-date=June 20, 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web |author=Elizabeth Nolan Brown |date=June 11, 2014 |url=http://reason.com/24-7/2014/06/11/dave-brat-the-man-who-beat-eric-cantor |title=Who Is Dave Brat? Take a Look at the Ayn Rand Loving, Immigration Reform Hating, Cato Institute Referencing Man Who Beat Eric Cantor – Reason 24/7 |publisher=Reason.com |access-date=June 12, 2014}} His father, Paul, was a doctor of internal medicine; his mother, Nancy, was employed as a social worker in Alma, Michigan, where he was raised.{{cite news |url=http://www.themorningsun.com/government-and-politics/20140611/alma-native-now-in-the-red-hot-heat-of-publicity |title=Alma native now in the red hot heat of publicity |publisher=Themorningsun.com |date=June 6, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617202154/http://www.themorningsun.com/government-and-politics/20140611/alma-native-now-in-the-red-hot-heat-of-publicity |archive-date=June 17, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news |author=Juanski |date=June 11, 2014 |url=http://michigan.icito.com/tag/david-brat/ |title=David Brat Archives | Michigan News |publisher=Michigan.icito.com |access-date=June 12, 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://www.richmondmagazine.com/articles/dave-brat-republican-primary.html |title=News and Features |work=Richmond Magazine |date=December 7, 2013 |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616012941/http://www.richmondmagazine.com/articles/dave-brat-republican-primary.html |archive-date=June 16, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} His family moved from Alma to Minnesota when David, the oldest of three boys, was in junior high. Brat graduated from Park Center Senior High School in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

Brat earned a B.A. in business administration from Hope College in 1986, a master's degree in divinity (M.Div.) from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1990 and a Ph.D. in economics from American University in 1995.{{cite web|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDIR-2016-02-12/pdf/CDIR-2016-02-12-VA-H-6.pdf |title=Congressional Directory |pages=280–281 |access-date=August 6, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/06/11/who-is-dave-brat-who-beat-cantor/10316907/|title=Who is Dave Brat, GOP giant-killer who took down Eric Cantor?|website=USA TODAY |last=Camia |first=Catalina |date=June 11, 2014}}

Academic career

After working for Arthur Andersen and as a consultant for the World Bank,{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsls.com/news/2019/01/02/former-virginia-congressman-dave-brat-named-dean-of-liberty-school-of-business/|title=Former Virginia Congressman Dave Brat named dean of Liberty School of Business|first=Samantha|last=Smith|date=January 2, 2019|website=WSLS}} Brat joined the faculty of Randolph–Macon College in 1996 as an economics professor.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/06/11/heres-what-david-brat-thinks-about-economics/|newspaper=Washington Post|title=Dave Brat's unorthodox economics: Adam Smith was from a 'red state'|last=O'Brien |first=Matt |date=June 11, 2014}} For six years, Brat chaired the College's department of ethics and business. At Randolph-Macon, Brat taught courses including "Britain in the International Economy", "International Economic Development", and "Business Ethics".{{cite web |url=http://faculty.rmc.edu/dbrat/classes.html |title=Classes |publisher=Randolph-Macon College |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614203809/http://faculty.rmc.edu/dbrat/classes.html |archive-date=June 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

From 2010 to 2012, Brat headed Randolph-Macon's BB&T Moral Foundations of Capitalism program. Endowed by the BB&T Corporation, the program was one of 60 similar programs devoted to the study of capitalism and morality in philosophy and economics departments at U.S. universities.{{cite magazine |last=Levy |first=Pema |date=June 11, 2014 |title=What We Know About Dave Brat, the Tea Party Candidate Who Beat Eric Cantor |url=http://www.newsweek.com/dave-brat-beat-eric-cantor-and-hes-probably-headed-congress-254551 |magazine=Newsweek |access-date=June 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613062134/http://www.newsweek.com/dave-brat-beat-eric-cantor-and-hes-probably-headed-congress-254551 |archive-date=June 13, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news |date=June 13, 2014 |last=Santoli |first=Michael |title=The big bank that blessed Brat's upset of Eric Cantor |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/breakout/the-big-bank-that-blessed-brat-s-upset-of-eric-cantor-125146311.html |publisher=Yahoo Finance |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702141738/http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/breakout/the-big-bank-that-blessed-brat-s-upset-of-eric-cantor-125146311.html |archive-date=July 2, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://www.clemson.edu/capitalism/capres/bbtp.html |title=Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism |publisher=Clemson University |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024072507/http://www.clemson.edu/capitalism/capres/bbtp.html |archive-date=October 24, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|title=David Brat Faculty CV|url=http://faculty.rmc.edu/dbrat/2012professionalActivity.html|website=Randolph-Macon College|access-date=June 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523111336/http://faculty.rmc.edu/dbrat/2012professionalActivity.html|archive-date=May 23, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

In 2006, Brat was appointed by Virginia governor Tim Kaine to the Governor's Advisory Board of Economists. He has also served on the board of directors of the Richmond Metropolitan Authority, and on the advisory board of the Virginia Public Access Project.{{better source needed|date=August 2023}}

In January 2019, following his defeat in the 2018 congressional election, Brat was named dean of the Liberty University School of Business.{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/02/dave-brat-liberty-university-1077660|title=Departing House member Brat lands at Liberty University|agency=Politico|date=January 2, 2019|access-date=January 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103014711/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/02/dave-brat-liberty-university-1077660|archive-date=January 3, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} In May 2023, Brat became Vice Provost for Engagement and Public Relations at Liberty.{{cite web | url=https://www.liberty.edu/news/2023/05/25/liberty-university-announces-leadership-changes-in-academic-administration/ | title=Liberty University announces leadership changes in academic administration » Liberty News | date=May 25, 2023 }}

=Scholarship and ideas=

Brat has asserted that culture matters in economic markets. He believes that the culture that produced Adam Smith was a Protestant culture, and that the ethics of that culture are important in understanding market efficiency.{{cite news|last=O'Brien|first=Matt|date=June 11, 2014|title=Dave Brat's unorthodox economics: Adam Smith 'was from a red state'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/06/11/heres-what-david-brat-thinks-about-economics|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=June 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612080008/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/06/11/heres-what-david-brat-thinks-about-economics/|archive-date=June 12, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|author=David Brat|title=Adam Smith's God: the End of Economics|year=2005|url=http://faculty.rmc.edu/dbrat/researchpapers/2005VAEAdamSmithPaper.doc|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060910171001/http://faculty.rmc.edu/dbrat/researchpapers/2005VAEAdamSmithPaper.doc|archive-date=September 10, 2006}} Brat has advocated that Christians should forcefully support free-market capitalism and behave altruistically, in the manner of Jesus, so that "we would not need the government to backstop every action we take".{{cite news|author=Reid J. Epstein|date=June 11, 2014|title=David Brat's Writings: Hitler's Rise 'Could All Happen Again'|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/06/11/david-brats-writings-hitlers-rise-could-all-happen-again|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=June 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613031501/http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/06/11/david-brats-writings-hitlers-rise-could-all-happen-again/|archive-date=June 13, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

According to Kevin Roose in a New York Magazine article, Brat "sees free-market economics as being intricately linked to ethics and faith", and he makes the case that Adam Smith's "'invisible hand' theory should be properly seen in the context of Christian moral philosophy".{{cite magazine|last=Roose|first=Kevin|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/06/david-brat-christian-rights-favorite-economist.html|title=David Brat Just Became the Christian Right's Favorite Economist|magazine=New York Magazine|date=June 11, 2014|access-date=June 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613132045/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/06/david-brat-christian-rights-favorite-economist.html|archive-date=June 13, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} Furthering the central theme of Max Weber's seminal book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Brat argues in his 2004 paper Economic Growth and Institutions: The Rise and Fall of the Protestant Ethic? that "institutions such as religion, democracy and government anti-diversion policies all significantly enhance a country's long-run economic performance", and concludes that "the religion variable may be the strongest ex ante, exogenous institutional variable in the literature".{{cite news|last=Noah|first=Timothy|date=June 11, 2014|title=Dave Brat: Christianity is the key to prosperity|url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/david-brat-economics-christianity|publisher=MSNBC.com|access-date=June 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615042638/http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/david-brat-economics-christianity|archive-date=June 15, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

In a paper entitled Is Growth Exogenous? Taking Bernanke Seriously, Brat criticized Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke. Brat asserted that Bernanke's work on economic growth overlooks the role of religious institutions—especially Protestant religious institutions—in a country's economic growth. Brat added that while savings rates, population growth, and human capital accumulation help drive economic growth, the larger factor is "the Protestant religious establishment", which Bernanke ignores.{{cite news|last=Zumbrum|first=Josh|date=June 11, 2014|title=David Brat to Bernanke: Don't Underestimate the Value of Protestants|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2014/06/11/david-brat-to-bernanke-dont-underestimate-the-value-of-protestants|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=June 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613031508/http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2014/06/11/david-brat-to-bernanke-dont-underestimate-the-value-of-protestants/|archive-date=June 13, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

Brat has blamed the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany on the lack of "unified resistance", adding, "I have the sinking feeling that it could all happen again, quite easily". Brat believes that countries with Protestant histories have economic advantages over countries that do not have such histories, and that Protestantism "provides an efficient set of property rights and encourages a modern set of economic incentives" that often lead to "positive economic performance". He believes in Christ as a transformer of culture, and that world transformation can be achieved when capitalism and Christianity merge. Brat reasons that if people follow the Christian gospel and, as a consequence, behave morally, markets will improve.{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/2860967/david-brats-biblical-views-shape-his-tea-party-politics/|title=David Brat's Biblical Views Shape His Tea Party Politics|last=Dias|first=Elizabeth|date=June 11, 2014|magazine=Time|access-date=June 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612013557/http://time.com/2860967/david-brats-biblical-views-shape-his-tea-party-politics/|archive-date=June 12, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

In 2025, Brat defended President Donald Trump's tariffs, arguing that they were a necessary "attempt to put capital back in the hands of Americans."{{Cite web |last=Slaughter |first=Brittany |date=2025-03-11 |title=Economic experts weigh in on the trade war impact on the stock market |url=https://wset.com/news/local/economic-experts-weigh-in-on-the-trade-war-impact-on-the-stock-market-nancy-hubbard-david-brat-canada-march-2025 |website=WSET |language=en}}

Early political career

Beginning in 2015, Brat volunteered{{Cite web|url=https://dailyprogress.com/community/orangenews/news/election-2018-dave-brat-and-abigail-spanberger/article_57c32228-dea4-11e8-9ae9-4bba41330633.html|title=Election 2018: Dave Brat and Abigail Spanberger|first=Hilary|last=Holladay|date=November 2, 2018|website=The Daily Progress}} as a special legislative assistant to Virginia state senator Walter Stosch,{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/05/06/fact-check-eric-cantor-dave-brat/8758735/|title=Fact check: Eric Cantor mislabels primary opponent|website=USA TODAY |last=Farley |first=Robert |date=May 6, 2014}} working on education issues.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/in-va-district-that-is-a-polarized-america-in-miniature-brat-and-spanberger-reach-out-to-both-sides/2018/10/26/7e87b918-cd7f-11e8-a3e6-44daa3d35ede_story.html|newspaper=Washington Post|title=In Va. district...|last=Vozzella |first=Laura |date=October 26, 2018}}

=2011 Virginia House of Delegates campaign =

In August 2011, Brat announced his candidacy for the Virginia House of Delegates seat for the 56th district. There was no primary, and six Republican leaders met and chose Peter Farrell as the Republican nominee for the November 2011 general election.{{cite web |author=Michelle Stanley |date=August 18, 2011 |publisher=Virginia Right |url=http://www.varight.com/news/dr-david-brat-seeks-56th-house-of-delegate-seat/ |title=Dr. David Brat seeks 56th House of Delegate Seat |access-date=June 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614221618/http://www.varight.com/news/dr-david-brat-seeks-56th-house-of-delegate-seat/ |archive-date=June 14, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}{{better source needed|date=August 2023}}

U.S. House of Representatives

=Elections=

== 2014 ==

{{main|2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia#District 7}}

==Republican primary==

File:Dave Brat by Gage Skidmore.jpg

In 2014, Brat challenged House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a Republican primary. Brat's campaign was notable for its lack of resources and traditional campaign tactics. Brat was outspent by Cantor 40 to 1; Cantor spent over $5 million, while Brat raised $200,000 and did not spend all of it.{{cite news |last=Memoli |first=Michael A. |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-eric-cantor-dave-brat-primary-20140611-story.html |title=Eric Cantor upset: How Dave Brat pulled off a historic political coup] |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=June 11, 2014 |access-date=October 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014180211/http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-eric-cantor-dave-brat-primary-20140611-story.html |archive-date=October 14, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news |last=Mascaro |first=Lisa |author2=Michael A. Memoli |author3=Mark Z. Barabak |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-na-pn-cantor-loses-to-tea-party-challenger-20140610-story.html |title=Washington reels as House's Eric Cantor loses to tea party challenger |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=June 11, 2014 |access-date=October 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028065913/http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-na-pn-cantor-loses-to-tea-party-challenger-20140610-story.html |archive-date=October 28, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} Brat's primary campaign was managed by 23-year-old Zachary Werrell.{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/meet-dave-brats-23-year-old-campaign-manager/article/2549565 |title=Meet Dave Brat's 23 Year Old Campaign Manager |work=Washington Examiner |author=Betsy Woodruff |date=June 10, 2014 |access-date=June 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614054627/http://washingtonexaminer.com/meet-dave-brats-23-year-old-campaign-manager/article/2549565 |archive-date=June 14, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} An analysis of campaign filings conducted by OpenSecrets concluded that Brat did not receive any donations from political action committees (PACs); the analysis noted that it was "almost impossible to profile Brat's typical donor, because he had so few".{{cite web |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2014/06/dave-versus-goliath-by-the-numbers/ |title=Dave Versus Goliath, By the Numbers |last=Choma |first=Russ |date=June 11, 2014 |publisher=OpenSecrets |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613082335/http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2014/06/dave-versus-goliath-by-the-numbers/ |archive-date=June 13, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} On June 10, 2014, Brat defeated Cantor, 55.5%-44.5%.

Brat's primary victory garnered national attention,{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/11/us/politics/eric-cantor-loses-gop-primary.html |title=Eric Cantor Defeated by David Brat, Tea Party Challenger, in G.O.P. Primary Upset |work=The New York Times |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |date=June 11, 2014 |page=A1 |access-date=June 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611015851/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/11/us/politics/eric-cantor-loses-gop-primary.html |archive-date=June 11, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/no-2-house-republican-eric-cantor-defeated-in-virginia-primary-upset-1402445714|title=Eric Cantor Loses to Tea Party's David Brat in Virginia Primary|work=The Wall Street Journal|author=Janet Hook and Kristina Peterson|date=June 10, 2014|access-date=June 11, 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/eric-cantor-faces-tea-party-challenge-tuesday/2014/06/10/17da5d20-f092-11e3-bf76-447a5df6411f_story.html|title=Eric Cantor succumbs to tea party challenger Tuesday|newspaper=The Washington Post|author=Robert Costa, Laura Vozzella and David A. Fahrenthold|date=June 10, 2014|access-date=June 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610224455/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/eric-cantor-faces-tea-party-challenge-tuesday/2014/06/10/17da5d20-f092-11e3-bf76-447a5df6411f_story.html|archive-date=June 10, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} as it was the first time a sitting House Majority Leader was defeated in his primary race since the position was created in 1899.{{cite news |author=Eric Linton |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/house-majority-leader-eric-cantor-defeated-tea-party-challenger-david-brat-virginia-gop-1597736 |title=House Majority Leader Eric Cantor Defeated By Tea Party Challenger David Brat In Virginia GOP Primary |newspaper=International Business Times |date=June 10, 2014 |access-date=June 11, 2014}}{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/washington-is-caught-totally-off-guard-by-cantor-loss-023046579.html |title=Washington is caught totally off guard by Cantor loss |work=Yahoo News |author=Chris Moody |date=June 11, 2014 |access-date=June 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611055958/http://news.yahoo.com/washington-is-caught-totally-off-guard-by-cantor-loss-023046579.html |archive-date=June 11, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/national-politics/20140610-house-majority-leader-eric-cantor-loses-gop-primary-to-tea-party-challenger.ece |title=House Majority Leader Eric Cantor loses GOP primary to tea-party challenger |work=The Dallas Morning News |agency=Associated Press |date=June 10, 2014 |access-date=June 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612135012/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/national-politics/20140610-house-majority-leader-eric-cantor-loses-gop-primary-to-tea-party-challenger.ece |archive-date=June 12, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} The victory was regarded as a historic upset.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dave-brats-23-year-old-campaign-manager-zachary-werrell/|title=Dave Brat's 23-year-old campaign manager Zachary Werrell - CBS News|date=June 20, 2014|website=www.cbsnews.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://wjla.com/news/local/who-is-dave-brat--104003|title=Who is Dave Brat? Meet the man behind Cantor's historic upset|date=June 11, 2014|website=WJLA}} Brat's victory was described in the press as exposing a "deep schism" in the Republican Party between its conservative base and its business wing, as well as a split between establishment Republicans and Tea Party insurgents.{{cite news|first=Matea|last=Gold|title=How national tea party groups missed the David Brat boat|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/10/how-national-tea-party-groups-missed-the-david-brat-boat/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 10, 2014|access-date=June 12, 2014|quote=Brat's victory underlined the deep schism in the party between its conservative base and its business wing.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612010502/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/10/how-national-tea-party-groups-missed-the-david-brat-boat/|archive-date=June 12, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}{{cite news|title=Tea party stuns GOP leader Eric Cantor|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/06/10/4968350/tea-party-stuns-gop-leader-eric.html|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=June 13, 2014|quote=Brat also got help from the more conservative wing of the Virginia Republican Party, which for years has been split between more establishment Republicans and tea party activists.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714152959/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/06/10/4968350/tea-party-stuns-gop-leader-eric.html|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{cite news|title=Emboldened after Cantor, tea party crows|url=https://news.yahoo.com/emboldened-cantor-tea-party-crows-202904376--election.html|publisher=Yahoo News|access-date=June 13, 2014|quote=The GOP is expected to retain control of the House, but Brat's pounding of Cantor Tuesday ripped open the establishment-vs.-insurgent split that's plagued the party since the 2010 elections.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715001859/http://news.yahoo.com/emboldened-cantor-tea-party-crows-202904376--election.html|archive-date=July 15, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

Radio talk show host Laura Ingraham endorsed Brat's candidacy and hosted a rally with him in a Richmond suburb. Brat was also supported by radio talk show host Mark Levin{{cite magazine|last=Cassidy|first=John|title=Cantor Loses, and Washington Goes Ape|url=https://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2014/06/eric-cantor-loses-to-david-brat.html|access-date=June 11, 2014|magazine=The New Yorker|date=June 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612015834/http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2014/06/eric-cantor-loses-to-david-brat.html|archive-date=June 12, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} and Ann Coulter.{{cite news|last=Bump|first=Philip|title=David Brat just beat Eric Cantor. Who is he?|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/10/david-brat-just-beat-eric-cantor-who-is-he/|access-date=June 11, 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611020211/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/10/david-brat-just-beat-eric-cantor-who-is-he/|archive-date=June 11, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} Brat received support from, and gave credit for his win to, local Tea Party groups in Virginia, but received no funding or endorsement from national Tea Party organizations. As of June 2014, however, Brat had not identified with the Tea Party movement.{{cite news |title=How David Brat Won |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/2014-virginia-primary-david-brat-107700_Page2.html |work=Politico |date=June 11, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614165830/http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/2014-virginia-primary-david-brat-107700_Page2.html |archive-date=June 14, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} Ron Rapoport, a political scientist at the College of William & Mary, has said Brat may be correctly identified as a "tea partier" only if the term is used as a catchall for "anti-establishment activist", while John Judis has opined that Brat could more correctly be described as a "right-wing populist".{{cite news |first=Grier |last=Peter |title=Is David Brat really a tea partier? |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Buzz/2014/0611/Is-David-Brat-really-a-tea-partyer-video |work=The Christian Science Monitor |date=June 11, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612020132/http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Buzz/2014/0611/Is-David-Brat-really-a-tea-partyer-video |archive-date=June 12, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} Matea Gold in The Washington Post stated, "the fact that Brat took off without the help of those organizations [national tea party groups] now makes it harder for them to claim his victory as their own."{{cite news |first=Matea |last=Gold |title=How national tea party groups missed the David Brat boat |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/10/how-national-tea-party-groups-missed-the-david-brat-boat/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 10, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612010502/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/10/how-national-tea-party-groups-missed-the-david-brat-boat/ |archive-date=June 12, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} Some libertarian groups, such as the Virginia Liberty Party, backed Brat.{{cite news|title=The Virginia Liberty Party 2014 General Election Endorsements|url=http://www.virginialibertyparty.com/2014/11/the-virginia-liberty-party-2014-general.html|website=Virginia Liberty Party|access-date=November 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224085719/http://www.virginialibertyparty.com/2014/11/the-virginia-liberty-party-2014-general.html|archive-date=December 24, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

Compared with Cantor, who was described as aloof, Brat was characterized as knowing how to work a crowd.J.S., [https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2014/06/virginia-politics "Who Is David Brat?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028180357/http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2014/06/virginia-politics |date=October 28, 2016 }}, Democracy in America blog, The Economist, June 16, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014. He ran an anti-establishment campaign criticizing Cantor's position on illegal immigration,{{Cite news|url=https://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/615/the-beginning-of-now|title=The Beginning of Now|work=This American Life|access-date=April 29, 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512213132/https://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/615/the-beginning-of-now|archive-date=May 12, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} government bailouts and budget deals while frequently invoking God and the United States Constitution in his speeches. During the campaign, Cantor criticized Brat as a "liberal professor" who had strong ties to Tim Kaine, Virginia's former Democratic governor and current junior Senator.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/208922-cantor-goes-down-to-tea-party-upset/ |title=Cantor out in Tea Party shocker |date=June 10, 2014 |website=thehill.com |publisher=The Hill |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611160557/http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/208922-cantor-goes-down-to-tea-party-upset |archive-date=June 11, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} Brat complained that Cantor had a "crony-capitalist mentality", putting the interests of the corporate sector ahead of small businesses.{{cite news |last=Parkinson |first=John |title=Dave Brat: Meet the Candidate Who Beat Eric Cantor |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/dave-brat-meet-candidate-beat-eric-cantor/story?id=24081628 |work=ABC News |access-date=June 12, 2014}} Chris Peace, a state legislator who collaborated with Brat on state budget issues at Randolph-Macon College, said that Brat was inspired to run for Congress because of "his passion for the structure of government and belief in free markets."{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/12/us/politics/david-brat-waged-solo-fight-against-eric-cantor.html |title=Once Snubbed, David Brat Turns the Tables |last=Steinhauer |first=Jennifer |date=June 12, 2014 |work=The New York Times |page=A1 |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612012908/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/12/us/politics/david-brat-waged-solo-fight-against-eric-cantor.html |archive-date=June 12, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

Although the national media were shocked at Brat's victory, Richmond-area media outlets had received signs well before the primary that Cantor was in trouble.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/16/business/media/eric-cantors-defeat-exposed-a-beltway-journalism-blind-spot.html|title=Eric Cantor's Defeat Exposed a Beltway Journalism Blind Spot|last=Carr|first=David|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 16, 2014|access-date=March 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320045749/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/16/business/media/eric-cantors-defeat-exposed-a-beltway-journalism-blind-spot.html|archive-date=March 20, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported two weeks before the primary that a number of Cantor's constituents felt he took them for granted. The Times-Dispatch also revealed that Cantor's attempt to brand Brat as a liberal professor actually made more people turn out for Brat.{{cite news|url=http://www.richmond.com/news/state-regional/virginia-politics/schapiro-in-new-kent-brat-backers-hope-to-hold-cantor/article_dff230e0-d76a-599d-992e-3bb000efe560.html|title=In New Kent, Brat Backers Hope To Hold Cantor Accountable|last=Schapiro|first=Jeff|publisher=Richmond Times-Dispatch|date=May 24, 2014}} The Chesterfield Observer, a local paper serving Chesterfield County—roughly half of which is in the 7th—reported that Tea Party-aligned candidates had won several victories there, and at least one Cantor loyalist believed Tea Party supporters smelled "blood in the water."{{cite news|url=http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/news/2014-06-04/Front_Page/Retreading_the_GOP.html|title=Retreading the GOP?|last=McConnell|first=Jim|publisher=The Chesterfield Observer|date=June 4, 2014|access-date=September 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103010058/http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/news/2014-06-04/Front_Page/Retreading_the_GOP.html|archive-date=January 3, 2017|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} One local reporter told David Carr of The New York Times that many constituents believed Cantor was arrogant and unapproachable. Due to massive cutbacks, the race was severely underpolled by local media. Few Capitol Hill reporters were willing to go to Cantor's district for fear that they would be out of Washington if a major story broke.

==General election==

Brat faced Democratic nominee Jack Trammell, another professor at Randolph-Macon, and James Carr, a Libertarian candidate, in the November general election.{{cite news |author=Andrew Prokop |url=https://www.vox.com/2014/6/10/5798686/dave-brat-and-his-democratic-general-election-opponent-are-both |title=Dave Brat and his Democratic general election opponent are both professors from the same college |publisher=Vox.com |date=June 10, 2014 |access-date=June 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611160717/http://www.vox.com/2014/6/10/5798686/dave-brat-and-his-democratic-general-election-opponent-are-both |archive-date=June 11, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} Brat was favored to prevail because of the district's significant Republican enrollment advantage (the district had a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+10, showing it to be the most Republican district in eastern Virginia).{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/06/11/who-is-dave-brat-who-beat-cantor/10316907|title=Who is Dave Brat, GOP giant-killer who took down Eric Cantor?|last=Cania|first=Catalina|work=USA Today|date=June 11, 2014|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229231248/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/06/11/who-is-dave-brat-who-beat-cantor/10316907/|archive-date=December 29, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

Cantor announced plans to aid Brat by resigning from the United States Congress on August 18 so that a special election for the balance of Cantor's seventh term could be held on the same day as the general election for a full two-year term. Because of Cantor's move, the winner of the November election would take office with two months' more seniority than other first-term Republicans elected in the 2014 midterm elections. Furthermore, the winner would be able to participate in the 2014 lame-duck session of Congress.{{cite news|last1=Kenny|first1=Steve|title=In effort to aid successor, Eric Cantor to leave House early|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2014/08/01/cantor-majority-leader-leave-congress-early/5xbRmhsIIKfX59HEYWOTLL/story.html|website=www.bostonglobe.com|publisher=The Boston Globe|access-date=August 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804034550/http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2014/08/01/cantor-majority-leader-leave-congress-early/5xbRmhsIIKfX59HEYWOTLL/story.html|archive-date=August 4, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

Brat prevailed in the November 4 special election, winning 60.83% of the vote to Trammell's 36.95%.{{cite web|title=After Toppling Eric Cantor, Dave Brat Wins His Seat|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/11/04/after-toppling-eric-cantor-dave-brat-wins-his-seat-in-virginia|publisher=U.S. News|access-date=November 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105065511/http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/11/04/after-toppling-eric-cantor-dave-brat-wins-his-seat-in-virginia|archive-date=November 5, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/search/year_from:2014/year_to:2014/office_id:5 |title=2014 election results |website=Virginia.gov|access-date=August 6, 2023}}

== 2016 ==

{{main|2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia#District 7}}

A court-ordered redistricting significantly changed the configuration of the 7th district. It lost its share of the city of Richmond to the neighboring 4th District; the 7th district and its predecessors had included all or part of Richmond for over a century (it had been numbered as the 3rd District before 1993). The district also lost Hanover County to the 1st District.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

Brat defeated Democrat Eileen Bedell, 57.5% to 42.2%, in the general election on November 8, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/search/year_from:2016/year_to:2016/office_id:5 |title=2016 U.S. House election results |website=Virginia.gov |access-date=August 6, 2023}}

== 2018 ==

{{see also|2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia#District 7}}

Brat ran for a third term in 2018 against Henrico native and former CIA officer Abigail Spanberger. The race was rated "Safe Republican" by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report until October 13, 2017, when Cook updated the rating to "Likely Republican." On February 8, 2018, the rating was changed to "Leans Republican," and on July 7, 2018, the race was rated a "Toss-up."{{Cite web |url=https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/house/virginia-house/va-07-brat-moves-lean-republican-toss |title=VA-07: Brat Moves from Lean Republican to Toss up | the Cook Political Report |date=July 6, 2018 |access-date=July 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706204424/https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/house/virginia-house/va-07-brat-moves-lean-republican-toss |archive-date=July 6, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

During an October 2018 debate, Brat characterized Spanberger as a disciple of Nancy Pelosi. Brat referred to Pelosi 25 times, according to The Washington Post, drawing laughs from the audience and the widely reported rejoinder, "Abigail Spanberger is my name."{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/rep-brat-and-democrat-spanberger-tangle-in-first--and-likely-only--debate/2018/10/15/03d6615c-d08f-11e8-8c22-fa2ef74bd6d6_story.html|title=Rep. Brat and Democrat Spanberger tangle in first — and probably only — debate|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016165341/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/rep-brat-and-democrat-spanberger-tangle-in-first--and-likely-only--debate/2018/10/15/03d6615c-d08f-11e8-8c22-fa2ef74bd6d6_story.html|archive-date=October 16, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=2018-10-16|df=mdy-all}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nancy-pelosi-abigail-spanberger-dave-brat_us_5bc52fa4e4b055bc9478f684|title=GOP Congressman Somehow Manages To Mention Nancy Pelosi 21 Times In A Debate|last=Fuller|first=Matt|date=2018-10-16|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=2018-10-16|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016163824/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nancy-pelosi-abigail-spanberger-dave-brat_us_5bc52fa4e4b055bc9478f684|archive-date=October 16, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

Brat ultimately lost to Spanberger, 50.3% to 48.4%,{{cite web|url=https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/search/year_from:2018/year_to:2018/office_id:5 |title=2018 U.S. House election results |access-date=August 6, 2023}} due in part to a large swing in the district's shares of Henrico and Chesterfield counties, traditional Republican strongholds.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/virginia-house-district-7|title=Virginia's 7th House District Election Results: Dave Brat vs. Abigail Spanberger|access-date=2018-11-07|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107060246/https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/virginia-house-district-7|archive-date=November 7, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}{{failed verification|date=August 2023}} While Brat carried five of the district's seven counties, Spanberger defeated him in Henrico and Chesterfield by a combined 30,600 votes, five times the overall margin of 6,600 votes.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/election/2018/results/virginia/house |title=Virginia House results from CNN |website=CNN |access-date=November 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109153137/https://www.cnn.com/election/2018/results/virginia/house |archive-date=November 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}File:Dave Brat and Donald Trump Event (17196336150).jpg and supporters in 2015]]

=Tenure=

Brat was sworn in on November 12, 2014, to finish Cantor's term.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/dave-brat-takes-office-as-eric-i-cantor-s-replacement/article_aaf04078-6ae2-11e4-af54-73b777267c40.html|title=Dave Brat takes office as Eric I. Cantor's replacement in 7th District|date=2014-11-12|website=The Daily Progress|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811111026/https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/dave-brat-takes-office-as-eric-i-cantor-s-replacement/article_aaf04078-6ae2-11e4-af54-73b777267c40.html|archive-date=2018-08-11}} He was a member of the Freedom Caucus.{{cite web|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/10/20/house-freedom-caucus-what-is-it-and-whos-in-it/|title=What is the House Freedom Caucus, and who's in it?|date=October 20, 2015|publisher=Pew research center|access-date=October 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703204924/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/10/20/house-freedom-caucus-what-is-it-and-whos-in-it/|archive-date=July 3, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/02/dave-brat-liberty-university-1077660|title=Departing House member Brat lands at Liberty University|first=Michael|last=Stratford|date=January 2, 2019|website=POLITICO}}

On January 6, 2015, Brat was one of 25 House Republicans to vote against John Boehner's reelection as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. Boehner, who needed at least 205 votes, was reelected with 216 votes.French, Lauren (January 6, 2015) – [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/hell-no-caucus-daniel-webster-114008.html "Hell No Caucus Sees Silver Lining In Loss"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405231901/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/hell-no-caucus-daniel-webster-114008.html |date=April 5, 2015 }}. POLITICO. Retrieved February 26, 2015. Though Brat supported Boehner earlier, he reversed his support after the House GOP leadership did not allow him to make an amendment to block a controversial executive order signed by President Barack Obama in a spending bill.Camia, Catalina (January 5, 2015) – [http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/01/05/boehner-speaker-vote-brat/ "Rep. Dave Brat: Boehner Won't Have My Support"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307115526/http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/01/05/boehner-speaker-vote-brat/ |date=March 7, 2015 }}. USA Today. Retrieved February 26, 2015.

Brat faced heckling by 150 people at a "raucous" town hall meeting in the small town of Blackstone, Virginia, on February 21, 2017. Some questioned him on the border wall, health care, and President Trump's policies.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/the-women-got-up-in-brats-grill-and-then-some/2017/02/21/9e8db1fa-f855-11e6-be05-1a3817ac21a5_story.html |title=The women got up in Brat's grill, and then some |newspaper=The Washington Post |author=Jenna Portnoy |location=Blackstone, Virginia |date=February 21, 2017 |access-date=February 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222115413/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/the-women-got-up-in-brats-grill-and-then-some/2017/02/21/9e8db1fa-f855-11e6-be05-1a3817ac21a5_story.html |archive-date=February 22, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} Several of Brat's supporters left the meeting early. He was criticized for not meeting with his constituents because he claimed there were paid protesters among them. On January 28, at a meeting held at Hanover Tavern with "the GOP-friendly audience", he had lamented that, "[s]ince Obamacare and these issues have come up, the women are in my grill no matter where I go. They come up — 'When is your next town hall?' And believe me, it’s not to give positive input."{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/va-rep-dave-brat-the-women-are-in-my-grill-no-matter-where-i-go/2017/01/31/41f89be4-e7fc-11e6-80c2-30e57e57e05d_story.html |title=The women got up in Brat's grill, and then some |newspaper=The Washington Post |author=Jenna Portnoy |location=Virginia |date=January 31, 2017 |access-date=February 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220094627/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/va-rep-dave-brat-the-women-are-in-my-grill-no-matter-where-i-go/2017/01/31/41f89be4-e7fc-11e6-80c2-30e57e57e05d_story.html |archive-date=February 20, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} He also urged his fellow conservatives at the Tavern to write newspaper articles because "we’re getting hammered."{{cite news |url=http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/meet-the-women-who-are-up-in-dave-brat-s/article_c41b47cb-736a-58e4-9448-b99e8f7bac11.html |title=Meet the women who are up in Dave Brat's grill |author1=Vanessa Remmers |author2=Patrick Wilson |newspaper=Richmond Times-Dispatch |date=February 19, 2017|access-date=February 21, 2017}} Brat considered running in Virginia's 2018 Senate election.{{cite news |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/10/04/gop_starts_to_eye_race_to_replace_kaine_in_senate_131960.html |title=GOP Starts to Eye Race to Replace Kaine in Senate |publisher=RealClearPolitics |author=James Arkin |date=October 4, 2016 |access-date=February 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005201840/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/10/04/gop_starts_to_eye_race_to_replace_kaine_in_senate_131960.html |archive-date=October 5, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

In November 2017, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that a campaign staffer was using her personal Facebook profile to debate people who commented negatively on his Facebook posts.{{Cite news|url=http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/she-argued-with-liberals-on-rep-dave-brat-s-facebook/article_ab66d673-1b51-5278-8fee-3011757394dd.html|title=She argued with liberals on Rep. Dave Brat's Facebook page. Then they found out he was paying her.|last=Times-Dispatch|first=VANESSA REMMERS AND PATRICK WILSON Richmond|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|access-date=November 17, 2017|language=en}} The woman did not identify herself as a paid campaign staffer. When asked about this, Brat said, "Her job is to clarify issues and put out my policy positions from my vantage point. It’s not to argue with people." Brat had another run-in with social media on March 1, 2018, when it was discovered that his campaign Twitter account had "liked" several controversial tweets, including one that questioned whether one of the survivors of the Parkland school shooting, David Hogg, was a "crisis actor".{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/brats-twitter-account-removes-likes-of-conspiracy-tweets|title=Brat's Office Removes 'Likes' of Controversial Parkland Tweets|last1=Garcia|first1=Eric|date=March 2, 2018|work=Roll Call|access-date=March 21, 2018|last2=Garcia|first2=Eric|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322020032/https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/brats-twitter-account-removes-likes-of-conspiracy-tweets|archive-date=March 22, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} After an outcry from concerned constituents, Brat's office issued a statement that attributed the likes to a campaign staffer who believed they were logged into their personal account. He also said that safeguards were being put in place to ensure it did not happen again.{{Cite news|url=http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/rep-dave-brat-s-twitter-account-removes-likes-of-controversial/article_424fbe88-1eb0-5218-bac6-05a1efb1ec1e.html|title=Rep. Dave Brat's Twitter account removes likes of controversial tweets after outcry|last=Times-Dispatch|first=PATRICK WILSON Richmond|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|access-date=March 21, 2018|language=en}}

=Committee assignments=

Political positions

=Economy=

Brat promised to vote against raising the debt ceiling for the first five years while he was in Congress,{{cite magazine | url=http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/The_Dave_Brat_Lesson | title=A Stunning Victory for the Tea Party, and What It Means | magazine=Esquire | date=June 11, 2014 | access-date=June 12, 2014 | author=Pierce, Charleps P. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614141507/http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/The_Dave_Brat_Lesson | archive-date=June 14, 2014 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }} and attacked Cantor during the primary campaign for voting to end the federal government shutdown of 2013. Brat advocated an end to tax credits, deductions and loopholes, and called for a flatter and more efficient tax code.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/kim-strassel-what-dave-brat-taught-conservatives-1402614856|title=What Dave Brat Taught Conservatives|last=Strassel|first=Kim|access-date=June 12, 2014|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115203530/http://www.wsj.com/articles/kim-strassel-what-dave-brat-taught-conservatives-1402614856|archive-date=January 15, 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}{{subscription required}} "I'm not against business. I'm against big business in bed with big government", he said.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.thenation.com/blog/180195/eric-cantors-opponent-beat-him-calling-out-gop-corruption#|title=Eric Cantor's Opponent Beat Him by Calling Out GOP Corruption|last=Fang|first=Lee|date=June 11, 2014|access-date=June 12, 2014|magazine=The Nation}}

Brat supported President Trump's trade policies, arguing that Americans benefited from re-negotiating NAFTA and that while tariffs on China would cause short-term harms, they would ultimately lead to "zero tariffs."

=Education=

According to the Washington Post, Brat opposed federally driven education policies such as the Common Core curriculum and No Child Left Behind.{{cite news |last=Rosenwald |first=Michael |title=Capitalism and ethics drive Brat's world view |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/capitalism-ethics-drive-brats-world-view/2014/06/11/17497fc0-f188-11e3-914c-1fbd0614e2d4_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 13, 2014 |date=June 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613003017/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/capitalism-ethics-drive-brats-world-view/2014/06/11/17497fc0-f188-11e3-914c-1fbd0614e2d4_story.html |archive-date=June 13, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} However, he expressed support for No Child Left Behind in his academic writings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/dave-brat-eric-cantor-virginia-107804|title=Accidental tea party leader|date=June 12, 2014|website=POLITICO}}

=Ethics reform=

Brat's decision to enter the 2014 Republican primary was driven largely by Cantor's role in weakening congressional ethics reform. "If you want to find out the smoking gun in this campaign, just go Google and type the STOCK Act and CNN and Eric Cantor", Brat said.

=Healthcare=

Brat opposed the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).{{cite news |last=Brat |first=Dave |title=Brat: A challenger for the 7th District |url=http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/their-opinion/columnists-blogs/guest-columnists/brat-a-challenger-for-the-th-district/article_20886f1d-bae2-5764-94bc-52494877c27a.html |work=Times Dispatch |access-date=June 13, 2014 |date=June 6, 2014}} In March 2017, he said he opposed the initial version of the American Health Care Act, which was the GOP's replacement for Obamacare, and that he intended to vote against it in the House Budget Committee.{{Cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/dave-brat-gop-obamacare-repeal-bill-committee-vote-236093|title=Obamacare repeal bill faces tough committee vote Thursday|work=POLITICO|access-date=March 15, 2017}} On May 4, 2017, Brat voted to repeal Obamacare and pass the revised version of the American Health Care Act.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/ahca-house-vote/|title=How the House voted to pass the GOP health-care bill|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505013036/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/ahca-house-vote/|archive-date=May 5, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/04/politics/house-health-care-vote/index.html|title=How every member voted on health care bill|website=CNN|date=May 4, 2017 |access-date=May 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504205501/http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/04/politics/house-health-care-vote/index.html|archive-date=May 4, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} He said the bill contained protections for preexisting conditions and would lead to lower prices; The Washington Post noted that the bill would have allowed insurers to charge higher premiums for individuals with preexisting conditions, and that an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office estimated that average health care premiums would increase as a result of the bill (more so for older Americans).

During his 2018 re-election campaign, Brat falsely claimed that The Washington Post fact-checker had given "four Pinocchios" to his opponent Abigail Spanberger for claims she made about Brat's position on health care.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/16/virginia-congressman-misrepresents-washington-post-fact-check-debate/|title=Analysis {{!}} Virginia congressman misrepresents Washington Post fact check in debate|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016172103/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/16/virginia-congressman-misrepresents-washington-post-fact-check-debate/|archive-date=October 16, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=2018-10-16|df=mdy-all}}

=Foreign policy and defense=

Brat called for the National Security Agency to end bulk collection of phone records and stated his support for statutory protections for e-mail privacy. He argued that domestic intelligence activities have "spun out of control"{{cite news |first=Brian |last=Fung |title=Eric Cantor was a friend of the NSA. The guy who beat him hates it. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/06/11/eric-cantor-was-a-friend-of-the-nsa-the-guy-who-beat-him-hates-it/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 11, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612010318/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/06/11/eric-cantor-was-a-friend-of-the-nsa-the-guy-who-beat-him-hates-it/ |archive-date=June 12, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} and that "the NSA's indiscriminate collection of data on all Americans is a disturbing violation of our Fourth Amendment right to privacy."{{cite news |url=https://www.vox.com/2014/6/10/5798554/eric-cantors-loss-is-bad-news-for-the-nsa |title=Eric Cantor's loss is bad news for the NSA |last=Lee |first=Timothy |date=June 10, 2014 |website=vox.com |publisher=Vox |access-date=June 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611081710/http://www.vox.com/2014/6/10/5798554/eric-cantors-loss-is-bad-news-for-the-nsa |archive-date=June 11, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

In an April 21, 2015, interview with radio talk show host Rusty Humphries, Brat claimed that the terrorist group ISIS had set up a base in Texas. "In our country it looks like we have an ISIS center in Texas now...You can't make up what a terrible problem this is." After the Texas Department of Public Safety responded that there was no substantiation for the claim, Brat's office said that he had really meant Mexico, not Texas, citing the conservative group Judicial Watch, which declined to provide any substantiation for its report.Dylan Baddour, [http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/U-S-Rep-says-ISIS-operates-Texas-base-6243149.php "U.S Rep. says ISIS operates Texas base"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507210623/http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/U-S-Rep-says-ISIS-operates-Texas-base-6243149.php |date=May 7, 2015 }}, Houston Chronicle, May 5, 2015 (Updated May 8, 2015), Retrieved May 8, 2015

=Immigration =

Brat supported President Trump's 2017 executive order to temporarily curtail immigration from the Muslim-majority nations of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen until better screening methods are devised. Brat said that "the temporary halt on migration from seven countries will last only a few months until we have solid vetting procedures in place" and that "these seven countries with a temporary travel ban have been identified by both the Obama administration and our intelligence agencies as being the greatest threat to our national security because they have a history of training, harboring, and exporting terrorism."{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/29/republicans-on-trump-travel-ban/|title=Coffman, Gardner join Republicans against President Trump's travel ban; here's where the rest stand|last1=Blake|first1=Aaron|website=The Denver Post|date=January 29, 2017 |access-date=January 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129222238/http://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/29/republicans-on-trump-travel-ban/|archive-date=January 29, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

In September 2017, Brat said that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which provided temporary stay for unauthorized immigrants brought to the United as minors, allowed minors to "bring in their entire extended family once they reach a certain status" and could bring in up to four million additional immigrants.{{Cite news|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/sep/15/dave-brat/rep-dave-brats-false-claim-about-daca-chain-migrat/|title=Rep. Dave Brat: DACA recipients lead to chain migration|work=@politifact|access-date=September 17, 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917224332/http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/sep/15/dave-brat/rep-dave-brats-false-claim-about-daca-chain-migrat/|archive-date=September 17, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} PolitiFact disputed Brat's figure.

=Social issues=

In 2011, Brat criticized the political right for simultaneously advancing the pursuit of individual liberty while pushing laws restricting abortion, gay rights and gambling, and the political left for simultaneously supporting progressive liberal individualism while coercing others to "fund every social program under the sun".

Brat later claimed to pro-life. He co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act and pledged to remove federal funding from Planned Parenthood.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wric.com/news/planned-parenthood-supporters-protest-outside-rep-dave-brats-local-office/|title=Planned Parenthood supporters protest outside Rep. Dave Brat's local office|website=WRIC|date=February 12, 2017}}

=Social Security and Medicare=

Brat criticized both major parties' approach to Medicare and Social Security, stating, "neither side of the aisle will talk about the most important issues because that is going to involve pain."{{cite news |last=Walsh |first=Deirdre |date=June 11, 2014 |title=Cantor challenger, Dave Brat, 'shocked' as results rolled in |url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/11/politics/brat-cantor-upset-win/ |publisher=CNN |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611175423/http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/11/politics/brat-cantor-upset-win |archive-date=June 11, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} He advocated "market-based reforms" to these programs,{{cite news |last=Vultaggio |first=Maria |date=June 10, 2014 |title=Who Is David Brat? Twitter Reacts To Eric Cantor's Tea Party Challenger |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/who-david-brat-twitter-reacts-eric-cantors-tea-party-challenger-1597752 |work=International Business Times |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611210210/http://www.ibtimes.com/who-david-brat-twitter-reacts-eric-cantors-tea-party-challenger-1597752 |archive-date=June 11, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} arguing individuals ought not to receive more from programs than they have paid into them.{{cite news |last=Digby Parton |first=Heather |date=June 12, 2014 |title=Libertarians' scary, new guru: Why Dave Brat is no populist hero |url=http://www.salon.com/2014/06/12/libertarians_have_a_new_guru_why_dave_brat_is_no_populist_hero/ |work=Salon |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613080244/http://www.salon.com/2014/06/12/libertarians_have_a_new_guru_why_dave_brat_is_no_populist_hero/ |archive-date=June 13, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change

| title= Virginia's 7th congressional district Republican primary, 2014

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Dave Brat

|votes = 36,105

|percentage = 55.53%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Eric Cantor (incumbent)

|votes = 28,912

|percentage = 44.47%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 65,017

|percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title= Virginia's 7th congressional district election, 2014

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Dave Brat

|votes = 148,026

|percentage = 60.83%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jack Trammell

|votes = 89,914

|percentage = 36.95%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = James Carr

|votes = 5,086

|percentage = 2.09%

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

|party = Write-in

|candidate =

|votes = 325

|percentage = 0.13%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 243,351

|percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box begin

| title= Virginia's 7th congressional district election, 2016}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Dave Brat (incumbent)

|votes = 218,057

|percentage = 57.71%

|change = -3.12%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Eileen Bedell

|votes = 160,159

|percentage = 42.24%

|change = +5.29%

}}

{{Election box candidate

|party = Write-in

|candidate =

|votes = 947

|percentage = 0.25%

|change = +0.12%

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 379,163

|percentage = 100.00%

|change = +135,812

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Republican Party (US)

|loser = Democratic Party (United States)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Virginia's 7th congressional district election, 2018

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Abigail Spanberger

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 176,079

| percentage = 50.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Dave Brat (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 169,295

| percentage = 48.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Joe Walton

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| votes = 4,216

| percentage = 1.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = n/a

|candidate = Write-ins

| votes = 155

| percentage = 0.1

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 349,745

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box gain with party link without swing

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

|loser = Republican Party (United States)

}}

Publications

God and Advanced Mammon – Can Theological Types Handle Usury and Capitalism? (2011){{Cite journal |last=Brat |first=David |date=2011-04-01 |title=God and Advanced Mammon—Can Theological Types Handle Usury and Capitalism? |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/002096431106500207 |access-date=2021-01-18 |journal=Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology |volume=65 |issue=2 |pages=168–179 |language=en |doi=10.1177/002096431106500207|s2cid=144414577 }}
{{cite journal |last=Brat |first=David A. |author2=Kenneth Sands |author3=Evan Dungan |title=NAEP Scores, Human Capital, and State Growth |journal=Virginia Economic Journal |volume=14 |year=2009 |pages=21–43}}
{{cite journal |last1=Park |first1=Walter G. |author2=David A. Brat |title=A Global Kuznets Curve? |journal=Kyklos |volume=48 |issue=1 |year=1995 |page=105 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-6435.1995.tb02317.x}}
{{cite web |title=All Democracies Created Equal? 195 Years Might Matter |url=http://faculty.rmc.edu/dbrat/researchpapers/2004SEinformsDEMOCRACY.pdf |publisher=Randolph-Macon College |access-date=June 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714181037/http://faculty.rmc.edu/dbrat/researchpapers/2004SEinformsDEMOCRACY.pdf |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite journal |last=Brat |first=David |title=Economic Growth and Institutions: The Rise and Fall of the Protestant Ethic? |journal=Virginia Economic Journal |volume=9 |year=2004 |pages=33–40}}
An Analysis of the Moral Foundations in Ayn Rand {{cite news |title=So Who's The Guy Who Just Beat Eric Cantor? Meet Dave Brat|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/10/dave-brat-eric-cantor_n_5482610.html|work=The Huffington Post |access-date=June 11, 2014}}
{{cite journal |last1=Park |first1=Walter G |last2=Brat |first2= David A |title=Cross-Country R&D and Growth: Variations on a Theme of Mankiw-Romer-Weil |journal=Eastern Economic Journal |date=Summer 1996 |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=345–54 |url=http://nw08.american.edu/~wgp/park_eej.pdf |access-date=June 13, 2014}}
{{cite book |title=American Underdog: Proof That Principles Matter |date=June 28, 2016 |publisher=Center Street |isbn=978-1455539918 }} (2016){{cite magazine|first=Rudy|last=Takala|author-link=Rudy Takala|title=Dave Brat to release his first book this week|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/dave-brat-to-release-his-first-book-this-week/article/2594977|magazine=The Washington Examiner|access-date=June 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629163928/http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/dave-brat-to-release-his-first-book-this-week/article/2594977|archive-date=June 29, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

Personal life

Brat moved to Virginia in 1996 with his wife, Laura. They have two children.{{cite web|title=About Dave Brat|url=http://davebrat.com/about-dave|website=davebrat.com|publisher=Friends for Dave Bray|access-date=September 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920223013/http://davebrat.com/about-dave/|archive-date=September 20, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

Brat was raised in a Presbyterian church and his wife is a Roman Catholic. Splitting their time between two churches, they are parishioners of St. Mary Catholic Church in Richmond.{{cite web|url=http://davebratforcongress.com/about-dave/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108071042/http://davebratforcongress.com/about-dave/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 8, 2014|title=David Brat campaign website|publisher=Davebratforcongress.com|access-date=June 11, 2014}} Brat also identifies as a Calvinist and lists affiliations with Christ Episcopal Church, Third Presbyterian, and Shady Grove Methodist.

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20140611050530/http://faculty.rmc.edu/dbrat/ Professor David Brat at Randolph-Macon College]
{{C-SPAN|75248}}
{{CongLinks | congbio=B001290 | votesmart=152270 | fec=H4VA07143 | congress=dave-brat/B001290 }}

{{US House succession box

|state = Virginia

|district = 7

|before = Eric Cantor

|years = 2014–2019

|after = Abigail Spanberger}}

{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
{{small|as Former US Representative}}|years=}}

Category:1964 births

Category:20th-century American economists

Category:21st-century American economists

Category:American Calvinist and Reformed Christians

Category:American officials of the United Nations