WASHINGTON — Departing House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said he will quit Congress altogether in August, ending a once-promising political career in a bid to give his successor a chance for an early turn in office.

Cantor told the Richmond Times-Dispatch 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," he told the newspaper in a story published late Thursday.

Cantor had originally said he would serve out his term until the end of the 113th Congress. But in his interview, he said he wanted to give his successor in the 7th District a jump and had asked Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe to call a special election that would coincide with the Nov. 4 general election.