The majority leader’s historic loss

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s (R-Va.) stunning primary loss on Tuesday night has no precedent.

{mosads}A new report from the University of Minnesota’s Smart Politics political blog finds that his defeat at the hands of economics professor David Brat is the first since the creation of the office in 1899, and breaks a streak of 55 consecutive successful renomination bids by incumbent House majority leaders.

Cantor’s fall is so rare it was — up until Tuesday night — more likely for a sitting House majority leader to lose renomination by dying. Louisiana Democrat Hale Boggs died in office, while he held the leadership position in 1972.

In contrast to Cantor’s unprecedented loss, New York Republican Sereno Payne holds the record for most wins for a sitting majority leader. He was renominated six times, starting in 1900.