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David Alan Brat (born July 27, 1964) is an American economist, a professor at Randolph–Macon College, and the Republican candidate in the general election for Virginia's 7th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, which will be held on November 4, 2014.

Brat defeated House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in the district's 2014 Republican primary on June 10, 2014. Brat's primary victory over Cantor, one of the biggest upsets in modern congressional history, made him the first primary challenger to oust a sitting House Majority Leader since the position's creation in 1899.

Background

Originally from Alma, Michigan, Brat moved to Virginia in 1996 with his wife, Laura. Brat attended Hope College in Michigan and received a B.A. in Business Administration in 1986; he also graduated with a Master's degree in Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1990 and earned a Ph.D in economics from American University in 1995.

After working for Arthur Andersen and as a consultant for the World Bank, he became a professor at Randolph–Macon College (RMC) in 1996.

His published papers include "God and Advanced Mammon: Can Theological Types Handle Usury and Capitalism?" and "An Analysis of the Moral Foundations in Ayn Rand."

David Brat is a Roman Catholic and is a parishioner of St. Mary Catholic Church in Richmond with his wife and their two children.

Political career

2005–2011 special legislative assistant

Brat worked as a special legislative assistant to Virginia state senator Walter Stosch from 2005 to 2011 concerning higher education.

2011 campaign for 56th House of Delegates seat

Brat announced he was running for the Virginia House of Delegates seat for 56th district; however, there was no primary, and instead six Republican leaders met and chose Peter Farrell instead of Brat.

2014 Elections

2014 race for 7th congressional district Republican primary

Brat ran against House Majority Leader Eric Cantor for the Republican nomination for Virginia's 7th congressional district and defeated Cantor by a 12-point margin. Brat was outspent by Cantor 40 to 1. Cantor spent over $5 million and Brat raised $200,000, but did not spend all of it. Brat's win was a historic and stunning victory, as it was the first time a sitting House Majority Leader had lost a primary race since the creation of the position in the 19th century.

Brat ran well to Cantor's right. His campaign laid particular stress on opposing immigration reform, stating Rep. Cantor favored "amnesty" for illegal immigrants. Radio talk show host Laura Ingraham endorsed Brat's candidacy and hosted a rally with him in a Richmond suburb. Radio talk show host Mark Levin also supported and endorsed Brat. Ann Coulter expressed support for his candidacy.

Brat will face Democratic nominee Jack Trammell, also a professor at Randolph–Macon College, in the November general elections. Brat is heavily favored due to the 7th's significant Republican lean; it has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+10.

Political positions

Although Brat has stated he does not identify as a Randian, he has acknowledged having been influenced by Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged and has expressed appreciation of Ayn Rand’s case for what he calls human freedom and free markets. He actively identifies with the Tea Party movement.

On the campaign trail, he frequently referred to the six elements of the "Republican Party of Virginia Creed".

• That the free enterprise system is the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice,
• That all individuals are entitled to equal rights, justice, and opportunities and should assume their responsibilities as citizens in a free society,
• That fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraints must be exercised at all levels of government,
• That the Federal Government must preserve individual liberty by observing Constitutional limitations,
• That peace is best preserved through a strong national defense,
• That faith in God, as recognized by our Founding Fathers, is essential to the moral fiber of the Nation.

In his 2011 essay titled God and Advanced Mammon — Can Theological Types Handle Usury and Capitalism?, Brat posits that if Christian people "had the guts to spread the word," government would not need to "backstop every action we take." He also criticized Hitler and said his rise "could all happen again, quite easily", as he "did not meet with unified resistance." In the same paper he criticizes the political Right for simultaneously advancing the pursuit of individual liberty while pushing laws restricting abortion, gay marriage and gambling, and the Left for coercing others to "fund every social program under the sun." He also writes that the government "holds a monopoly on violence" as "any law that we vote for is ultimately backed by the full force of our government and military."

Publications

• God and Advanced Mammon — Can Theological Types Handle Usury and Capitalism? (2011)
• All Democracies Created Equal? 195 Years Might Matter (2004)
• An Analysis of the Moral Foundations in Ayn Rand
• Cross-Country R&D and Growth: Variations on a Theme of Mankiw-Romer-Weil (1966)

Boards and leadership positions

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Dave Brat" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (June 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Brat is the BB&T Ethics Program Director, serving 2010–2020. The program arose from a $500,000 grant, given by the charitable arm of the Fortune 500 financial services and banking firm BB&T, awarded to Randolph-Macon College for the study of the moral foundations of capitalism and the establishment of a related ethics program. Other board and leadership positions include:

• Governor’s Advisory Board of Economists, GABE/JABE, 2006 – present
• Board of Directors, Richmond Metropolitan Authority, 2008–present
• Board of Directors, Vice-Chair and Chair of Executive Committee, ], 2008 – present
• Board of Trustees, VACo/VML Pooled OPEB Trust, 2009 – present
• Advisory board, Virginia Public Access Project, 2011 – present

References

1. ^ David Brat. "Academic CV" (PDF). Randolph-Macon College.
2. About Dave
3. Isenstadt, Alex (June 10, 2014). "Who is Dave Brat?". Politico. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
4. "House Majority Leader Eric Cantor loses GOP primary to tea-party challenger". Dallas Morning News. June 10, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
5. "House Majority Leader Eric Cantor Defeated By Tea Party Challenger David Brat In Virginia GOP Primary". Ibtimes.com. July 25, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
6. http://michigan.icito.com/tag/david-brat/
7. http://www.themorningsun.com/government-and-politics/20140611/alma-native-now-in-the-red-hot-heat-of-publicity
8. "David Alan Brat at Tobacco Issues.com". Tobaccoissues.com. July 19, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
9. Epstein, Reid J. (June 10, 2014). "Who Is David Brat? Meet the Economics Professor Who Defeated Eric Cantor". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
10. "David Brat campaign website". Davebratforcongress.com. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
11. Dr. David Brat seeks 56th House of Delegate Seat
12. Chad Pergram, Associated Press. (June 10, 2014). "Cantor upset in Virginia GOP primary by Tea Party backed challenger". Fox News. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
13. Memoli, Michael A. Eric Cantor upset: How Dave Brat pulled off a historic political coup, Los Angeles Times, June 11, 2014.
14. Mascaro, Lisa, Michael A. Memoli, and Mark Z. Barabak. Washington reels as House's Eric Cantor loses to tea party challenger, Los Angeles Times, June 11, 2014.
15. ^ Jonathan Martin (June 10, 2014). "Eric Cantor Defeated by David Brat, Tea Party Challenger, in G.O.P. Primary Upset". New York Times. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
16. Janet Hook and Kristina Peterson (June 10, 2014). "Eric Cantor Loses to Tea Party's David Brat in Virginia Primary". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
17. Robert Costa, Laura Vozzella and David A. Fahrenthold (June 10, 2014). "Eric Cantor succumbs to tea party challenger Tuesday". Washington Post. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
18. Chris Moody (June 11, 2014). "Washington is caught totally off guard by Cantor loss". Yahoo News. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
19. Lee, Tony (May 28, 2014). "Dave Brat: Illegal Immigrants Pouring into USA After Cantor Announced 'Kids Are Welcome'". Breitbart.com. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
20. "House Majority Leader Eric Cantor loses GOP primary to tea-party challenger". The Dallas Morning News. June 10, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
21. Cassidy, John (June 11, 2014). "CANTOR LOSES, AND WASHINGTON GOES APE". The New Yorker. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
22. ^ Bump, Philip (June 10, 2014). "David Brat just beat Eric Cantor. Who is he?". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
23. "Dave Brat and his Democratic general election opponent are both professors from the same college". Vox.com. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
24. Woodruff, Betsy (January 6, 2014). "Eric Cantor's Challenger from the Right". National Review. National Review Online. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
25. ""What We Believe"". Dave Brat for Congress. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
26. "Republican Party of Virginia Creed". Republican Party of Virginia. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
27. ^ Cite error: The named reference hitlercanraiseagain was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
28. "David Brat's Writings: Hitler's Rise 'Could All Happen Again'". Washington Post. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
29. "All Democracies Created Equal? 195 Years Might Matter," (PDF). Randolf-Macon College. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
30. "So Who's The Guy Who Just Beat Eric Cantor? Meet Dave Brat". Hufifngton Post. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
31. "http://nw08.american.edu" (PDF). American University Washington DC. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
32. "David Brat Faculty CV". Randolph-Macon College. Randolph-Macon College. Retrieved June 11, 2014.

External links

• Dave Brat for Congress
• Professor David Brat at Randolph-Macon College
• Template:DMOZ

Template:Persondata

• 1960s births
• American economists
• American Roman Catholics
• American University alumni
• Hope College alumni
• Living people
• People associated with the Tea Party movement
• People from Alma, Michigan
• People from Henrico County, Virginia
• Princeton Theological Seminary alumni
• Randolph–Macon College faculty
• Virginia Republicans
• World Bank people