WASHINGTON — Rep. Eric Cantor, who lost his primary in a shocking upset in June and stepped down as House majority leader on Thursday, has resigned his seat.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that Cantor’s resignation will be effective Aug. 18.
Cantor has also asked Gov. Terry AcAuliffe to schedule a special election on nov. 4, the same day as the general election, the paper reports. That way, whoever wins the election would immediately take office, rather than waiting until the usual January seating of Congress.
“That will help the interests of my constituents (because) he can be there in that consequential lame-duck session,” Cantor told the Times-Dispatch.
Cantor, who served for 14 years, lost the Republican primary for his 7th District seat to relatively unknown Randolph-Macon College economics professor Dave Brat. Brat and a fellow Randolph-Macon professor, Democrat Jack Trammell.
Cantor will be succeeded as majority leader by Kevin McCarthy, of California. Cantor also told the Times-Dispatch that he supports Brat’s candidacy.
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