Well, in spite ofmy headline the answer is probably not, but there is some hope.
Rep. Cantor (R-VA)was the second-in-command in the Republican-majority House ofRepresentatives. It is generallybelieved that any material Immigration Reform measure must be driven by theHouse Republicans. Rep. Cantor wasgenerally known to be a pro-business Republican, who was helping push forimmigration reform behind-the-scenes, or at least that is what his primaryopponent, Dave Brat, led central Virginians to believe. Mr. Brat’s shocking primary upset on Tuesdayseems to mean that immigrationreform is dead for 2014.
So could Rep.Cantor’s loss actually help?
It seems unlikelybut it may not be as bad as it seem today. For one, other immigration-friendly southern Republicans, such as Sen.Lindsay Graham (R-SC), coasted to primary victories. Second, and the reason for my provocativeheadline, is Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Rep. McCarthy is the next-in-line for Rep. Cantor’s No. 2 positionwithin the House Republican leadership. As thisarticle in the Irish Central points out, Rep. Cantor “represents a centralCalifornia district where pro-immigrant issues, immigrant issues, such as theneed for immigrant labor among the huge farming concerns, are critical. His district is 35 percent Latino and he ison record as favoring a version of immigration reform.”
Yet again leadershipon the issue turns back to the Majority Leader Rep. John Boehner(R-OH). Rep. Boehner has straddled theline between the pro and anti-immigration wings of his party, a line that seemsaimless. If he can articulate a strategyimmigration reform might have a chance. For now, all we have is glimmers of hope.