Eric Cantor to Resign from Congress Aug. 18

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) announced Thursday he will resign his seat in the House of Representatives effective Aug. 18, just hours after announcing he would be stepping down as U.S. House majority leader.

The congressman told the Richmond Times-Dispatch he has asked Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe to call a special election so his successor could take office immediately rather than waiting until January for the next Congress. The special election is expected to coincide with the general election Nov. 4.

“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,” Cantor said in an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch Thursday afternoon.

Cantor’s 14-year congressional run remained unchallenged until Dave Brat, a tea party-backed Henrico County economics professor at Randolph-Macon College defeated the incumbent in a Republican primary June 10.

Come November, Brat will face Democrat Jack Trammel, a Louisa County associate professor who teaches at the same college.

“I want to thank Eric for his service to the Seventh District and to the entire the Commonwealth,” Brat said in a statement. “The time one has to sacrifice to be an elected official is enormous, and he has sacrificed a great deal to serve the people. I also want to thank him for his endorsement. I wish Eric and his family the best in their future endeavors.”

Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will succeed Cantor as House majority leader. Before his defeat, Cantor was reportedly seen as a potential rival and successor to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).