Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) told the Richmond Times-Dispatch just hours after he stepped down as majority leader Thursday that he plans to resign from Congress on Aug. 18.
Cantor told the newspaper that he has asked Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) to call a special election on Nov. 4 so that his successor may take office immediately rather than in January.
“I want to make sure that the constituents in the 7th District will have a voice in what will be a very consequential lame-duck session,” he told the Times-Dispatch.
The Virginia Republican suffered a stunning primary defeat in June at the hands of David Brat, a little-known economics professor. McAuliffe said in a radio interview this week that he was “heartsick” over Cantor’s loss, which, along with a slate of retirements from other Virginia representatives, he said would lessen Virginia’s clout in Congress.
This post has been updated.