(JTA) — U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor said he will resign as House majority leader a day after losing a Republican congressional primary in Virginia.
Cantor made the announcement late Wednesday afternoon at a meeting with House Republicans and later at a news conference, the Hill reported.
The resignation will take effect by the end of July. Elections for majority leader and whip will be held June 19, the Hill reported.
Cantor, 51, the only Republican Jewish lawmaker in the House of Representatives since 2009, lost in his Richmond district to Tea Party challenger Dave Brat in a major upset.
After a career in the Virginia legislature, Cantor was elected to the House in 2000 and was made chief deputy whip just two years later. He rode the Tea Party wave to majority leader after the 2010 elections.
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