Following last week’s Republican congressional primary election, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said he had “no regrets” despite his surprise loss to Tea Party-backed candidate David Brat. This loss is the first time a sitting majority leader has lost in a primary election.

“I don’t have any regrets, you know, because I remain focused on the mission that I’m about,” said Cantor in an interview with CNN’s State of the Union. “I‘ve been so honored to represent the people of the Seventh District of Virginia, one of the highest honors of my life, and then to be privileged by my colleagues to serve as majority leader.”

Leading up to the primary, polls placed Cantor leading Brat by 34 points but the incumbent lost by 12 points, sending shock waves through the Republican party.

Many theories circulate concerning the primary election, with some rumoring that Cantor was “out of touch” with voters in his district, according to the Washington Examiner, but others speculate that a large number of non-Republican voters may have aided in Cantor’s defeat.

Cantor will serve the rest of his congressional term, but plans to step down from House leadership in July. He stated that he would even vote for Brat.

As for future plans in politics, Cantor was not ready to rule out any possibilities, but – according to Politico – he does not want to transition into being a lobbyist.

“[Y]ou know, there are ways to serve, um, not just in public office,” said Cantor to CNN. “And I’m looking forward to engaging in those kinds of things and to continue on the mission of reform conservatism the way that we have here, that actually helps people by our applying those conservative solutions.”

David Brat, an economics professor at Randolph-Macon College, will face Democrat Jack Trammell in the general election, a fellow professor at Randolph-Macon.