Eric Cantor set to resign from Congress on August 18

Eric Cantor set to resign from Congress on August 18
(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

On Thursday, Rep. Eric Cantor told Virginia's Richmond Times-Dispatch he is resigning his seat from the House of Representatives, effective August 18.

"I want to make sure that the constituents in the 7th District have a voice in what will be a very consequential lame-duck session," he told the newspaper. Cantor, who stepped down Thursday as House majority leader, also said that he asked Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) to call a special election that coincides with the Nov. 4 general election. The winner of that election would take office immediately and not have to wait until January to start with the next Congress.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.