RICHMOND, Virginia — U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor — who lost his re-election bid to a conservative tea party-backed opponent last month — tells a Virginia newspaper he will resign his seat in the House of Representatives months earlier than expected.

Cantor’s announcement comes hours after he stepped down as House Majority Leader on July 31. Cantor had previously said he would serve his full term, which would have ended in January.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported early Aug. 1 that Cantor will step down Aug. 18 to make sure constituents have a voice during the “consequential” lame-duck session.

Cantor tells the newspaper he has asked Gov. Terry McAuliffe to call a special election for his district that coincides with the Nov. 4 general election. That would enable his successor to take office immediately.

Cantor lost to Dave Brat, an underfunded, tea party-backed opponent, in his Republican primary in June.