Rep. Eric Cantor (R) has announced that he will resign August 18. He has also asked Virginia Governor Terry McAuffle (D) to schedule the special election for November 4, the day of the general election. Cantor, whose last day as House Majority Leader was Thursday, said in a interview with his hometown paper, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, that the move will ensure that constituents are represented in what he calls a “very consequential lame-duck session.”
Cantor was defeated in his primary by Dave Brat, who had less funds than Cantor but ran to his right on immigration reform. Cantor was then the first Majority Leader to be defeated in a primary. The loss led to Cantor resigning as Majority Leader, although he said, at the time, that he would serve out the remainder of his term.