In the interview, Cantor voiced his frustration with the sometimes slow pace in Congress.

“There is a lot of business that is still to be done,” he said. “I wish that Washington would act quicker.”

McAuliffe said Wednesday that he was “heartsick” over Cantor’s defeat, because coupled with the retirements of Rep. Frank R. Wolf, R-10th, and Rep. Jim Moran, D-8th, it represents a significant loss of clout for the state’s congressional delegation.

But Cantor does not seem too concerned.

“We have some very talented people on the Virginia delegation, and it (is) a hard job to represent us and the interest of the commonwealth. I am confident that my colleagues will be able to do that,” he said.

Cantor said Virginia has been “very prudent at the state level” in terms of its fiscal management.