Representative Nathan Deal, a Georgia Republican, will resign from the House next week, a move that likely gives the Democrats a little extra breathing room as they try to pass legislation overhauling the health care system.
Mr. Deal had already announced that he was running for governor in 2010 and would not be running for re-election to the House. But with Mr. Deal stepping down before his term expires, House Democrats now have to deal with one fewer opponent to their health care legislation.
Mr. Deal, who was first elected to the House in 1992, made his announcement this morning in his district. “I firmly believe that now is the season for me to devote my full energies to the campaign for governor,” Mr. Deal, who will leave Congress on March 8, said in his prepared remarks.

His coming exit looks to make the math easier for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who faces the difficult task of lining up enough votes to push another health care measure through the House.
Mr. Deal’s departure will leave 431 members in the House, meaning Democrats would, for the time being at least, presumably need 216 votes to pass their health care bill.