WASHINGTON — Repudiated at the polls, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor intends to resign his leadership post, officials said Wednesday, clearing the way for a potentially disruptive Republican shake-up a few months before midterm elections with control of Congress at stake.

Cantor, R-Va., was expected to make a formal announcement of his plans at a late-afternoon meeting of the party’s rank and file, less than 24 hours after he lost a primary to a little-known and underfunded rival backed by tea party groups.

Even before his announcement, jockeying broke out among fellow Republicans eager to move up the House leadership ladder — or establish a foothold on it.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the party whip and third-ranking leader, informed fellow Republicans he intended to run to succeed Cantor, officials said, and Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas also made clear his interest. Read more.

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