Dave Brat

Dave Brat
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 7th district
In office November 12, 2014 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Eric Cantor
Succeeded by	Abigail Spanberger
Personal details
Born	David Alan Brat (1964-07-27) July 27, 1964 (age 59) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Laura Sonderman ​ (m. 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.^[1] 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.