Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) resigned from his Congressional seat less than an hour after he voted “no” on the health care reform bill, according to the House Clerk’s office.

Deal’s resignation from the House was effective at 11:45 p.m. on March 21.

Deal, who is running for governor in Georgia, originally intended to resign from the seat earlier this month but stayed in order to cast a vote on the health bill.

State party leaders had encouraged him to leave Congress so he could dedicate himself full time to the gubernatorial race. But House GOP leaders urged Deal to stick around Washington a little longer.

The health care reform bill passed the House 219-212 on Sunday night.

John McArdle contributed to this report.