Eric Cantor, the second-ranking Republican in the House, will step down from his post as majority leader after losing his primary bid Tuesday night, sources tell NBC News.

Cantor, a Virginia Republican, has served as second-in-command to House Speaker John Boehner since 2010. He was defeated in the primary by David Brat, a little-known economics professor who ran a shoestring campaign without the support of prominent national Tea Party groups.

The decision, first reported by the Washington Post, is sure to send shockwaves through Capitol Hill as members of the conservative and establishment wings of the Republican Party jockey to fill the influential post.

Cantor had previously been discussed as a potential successor to Boehner if the current speaker stepped down.

Other top Republicans are already floating names to replace Cantor in the high-ranking post.

Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, is actively discussing his interest in the majority leader job, a GOP aide confirmed to NBC News.

Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, former GOP Conference Chairman and current Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, is another favorite of conservatives for the job. In a statement Monday, Hensarling acknowledged that he's mulling a run.

"I am humbled by the many people who have approached me about serving our Republican Conference in a different capacity in the future. There are many ways to advance the causes of freedom and free enterprise, and I am prayerfully considering the best way I can serve in those efforts,” he said.

With Cantor's ouster, race for top house posts is on

Top House Republicans are already floating names for the leadership position that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor will leave open when he leaves his post as House Speaker John Boehner’s second-in-command.

In an unprecedented surprise defeat, Cantor lost Tuesday night’s Republican primary for his Virginia congressional seat to little-known economics professor David Brat. The shakeup is sure to have dramatic repercussions for the leadership of the party in the House, where Cantor had previously been rumored to be gunning for Boehner’s job if he stepped down.

Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, is actively talking about his interest in the majority leader position, a GOP aide confirmed to NBC News.

Sources close to Deputy Whip Peter Roskam, R-Ill., say he is also running for the third-in-line position of Majority Whip, under the assumption that the current Whip, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, will run for Majority Leader.

Another name being floated for Majority Leader by is conservative Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, former GOP Conference Chairman and current Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.

In a statement, Hensarling praised Cantor as a “friend and ally on many fronts” and acknowledged that he’s been approached about taking over his post.

"I am humbled by the many people who have approached me about serving our Republican Conference in a different capacity in the future. There are many ways to advance the causes of freedom and free enterprise, and I am prayerfully considering the best way I can serve in those efforts,” he said.

Rep. Matt Salmon, an Arizona conservative known to be openly critical of House leadership, mentioned Hensarling and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as possible replacements for Cantor and said that the majority leader's ouster should send a message to Boehner as well.

"I think it makes it a lot harder for him to run for Speaker," he said of Boehner. " I think it was a broader message that Republicans better start acting like Republicans and delivering for the base or their going to make us pay for it." (Source: NBC News)

Story Date: June 12, 2014