Cantor says he will resign House leadership post on July 31

By DAVID ESPO ASSOCIATED PRESS

10 years ago

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va. speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 11, 2014, after a House Republican caucus meeting. Repudiated at the polls, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor intends to resign his leadership post at the end of next month, officials said Wednesday, clearing the way for a potentially disruptive Republican shake-up just before midterm elections with control of Congress at stake. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., delivers a concession speech in Richmond, Va., Tuesday, June 10, 2014. Cantor lost in the GOP primary to tea party candidate Dave Brat. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Dave Brat, right, is congratulated by Johnny Wetlaufer after Brat defeated House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in the Republican primary, Tuesday, June 10, 2014, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Richmond Times-Dispatch, P. Kevin Morley)

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio is pursued by reporters as he walks from his office through the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 11, 2014, the morning after the stunning political defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia by a tea party challenger in the state primary. In a statement, Boehner praised Cantor as “a good friend and a great leader, and someone I’ve come to rely upon on a daily basis.” (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON — House Republican Leader Eric Cantor says he is resigning his leadership post at the end of next month.

The majority leader is stepping down in the aftermath of his defeat in a primary election to a tea-party backed rival in Virginia.

That clears the way for a Republican shake-up just before the midterm elections this fall, when control of Congress is at stake.

Cantor says he’ll serve out the remainder of his term in Congress. And he hopes to continue to be a champion for conservative causes across the nation after he leaves office.

Cantor says he will support Kevin McCarthy of California to replace him as majority leader.

On Tuesday, the Virginia Republican lost a primary election to David Brat.