The U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor will resign from Congress Aug. 18, two months after GOP defeat.

Cantor, 51, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch about his plans to resign from his seat in the House of Representatives rather than completing the full term in January. He made the announcement a few hours after he stepped down as House majority leader.

He also said that the decision came at the right time because the Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) will have enough time to call a special election to correspond with the regular Nov. 4 general election. 

"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 said. 

Brian Coy, spokesman of McAuliffe said Friday morning that the governor's office was assessing the request for a special election. "I want to thank Eric for his service to the Seventh District and to the entire Commonwealth," Brat said in a statement, reports theAssociated Press. "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."

June 10 Cantor lost to Long Randolph-Macon, economics professor Dave Brat (R), an underfunded, tea party-backed opponent. Since then, the 51-year-old supported Brat, who will compete with another Randolph-Macon professor, Democrat Jack Trammell, in November. "I hope he will win," Cantor said about Brat.