Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor will resign from Congress early,  the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.

The congressman, who was unexpectedly defeated by a Tea Party candidate in June, said he will resign his seat in the House of Representatives effective Aug. 18.

“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,” the Republican told the newspaper on Thursday.

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Cantor has requested that Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe call a special election that would coincide with the November 4 general election.

“That way he will also have seniority, and that will help the interests of my constituents [because] he can be there in that consequential lame-duck session,” Cantor explained.

 The Associated Press reports that Cantor made his announcement shortly after stepping down as House majority leader.

The congressman had been expected to finish his current term through the end of the 113th Congress, Reuters adds.