House Speaker Paul Ryan says he is not running for re-election
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Paul Ryan announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election, saying he’d accomplished “big things” and did not want his children in Wisconsin just to know him as a “weekend dad.”
“This year will be my last one as a member of the House,” Ryan told reporters after delivering the news to his GOP colleagues in a closed-door meeting. “I will be retiring in January, leaving this majority in good hands with what I believe is a very bright future.”
Ryan said he would remain as speaker through the end of this year, even as jockeying begins to replace him as the next GOP leader.
“This is a job that does not last forever,” said Ryan, who became speaker in 2015 after Ohio Republican John Boehner abruptly announced his resignation. “It’s fleeting, and that inspires you to do big things. And on that score, I think we’ve achieved a heckuva lot.â€
He cited the tax overhaul President Trump enacted in December, and a budget agreement in February that sharply increased funding levels for the military. He said he regretted that another priority, reform of Medicare and other entitlement programs, was not accomplished.
Trump, who has had an on-again, off-again relationship with the speaker, tweeted out praise on Wednesday: “Speaker Paul Ryan is a truly good man, and while he will not be seeking re-election, he will leave a legacy of achievement that nobody can question. We are with you Paul!”
Speaker Paul Ryan is a truly good man, and while he will not be seeking re-election, he will leave a legacy of achievement that nobody can question. We are with you Paul!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018
Ryan was the 2012 Republican candidate for vice president on nominee Mitt Romney’s ticket, and was considered a potential 2016 presidential candidate but opted not to run.Â
He said he would remain in office through the end of his term in January, but his retirement announcement could leave a void in Republican leadership as it faces a November elections that will determine whether the GOP can keep control of Congress.
Democrats hailed Ryan’s retirement as a sign that he knows GOP will take big losses.
“Stay tuned for more retirements as Republicans increasingly realize that their midterm prospects are doomed,” said Tyler Law, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Ryan’s announcement is likely to set off a battle for Republican leadership in the House. Possible replacements include Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., now Ryan’s second-in-command, and Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., now the third-ranking House member.
Scalise downplayed speculation in an appearance on Fox News before Ryan’s announcement.
“A lot of people are saying, ‘What are they going to run for next year,’ but it really becomes irrelevant if [Democrat] Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the House,” Scalise said. “And clearly that’s what she’s intending on doing and they’re raising a lot of money on their side. We need to make sure we hold the House.”
Ryan was a fiscal conservative, but his efforts to be a more pragmatic leader led to conflicts with hard-liners in the GOP onference, including the House Freedom Caucus.
When asked about Ryan’s ability to serve out the remainder of the year as leader while his top deputies were angling to succeed him, Freedom Caucus chairman Mark Meadows, R-N.C., said it was certainly possible.
“Will it happen?” Meadows said. “I think the next few weeks will determine whether that happens or not. Everyone will start jockeying for position immediately. They won’t wait for 9 months.â€
Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Penn., said it was too early to talk about who would replace Ryan.
“The bigger issue right now is just trying to maintain the majority,†said Dent, who is retiring this year. He said Republicans face a “toxic†environment this year but the midterms were never going to be about Ryan. Instead, he said, it would be more of a referendum on President Trump. “This is going to be a challenging year.â€
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., praising Ryan despite their differences, said replacing him will be difficult: “The job may be made harder because Congressmen Scalise and McCarthy will be competing for the hard-right’s favor, but Speaker Ryan is up to the job.â€
While Ryan had support from rank-and-file Republicans, he also took heat from conservative who said he was too quick to compromise with Democrats.
Buck noted that Ryan did not seek the speaker’s post — colleagues urged him to take the job after Boehner’s sudden departure — but he “is proud of all that has been accomplished and is ready to devote more of his time to being a husband and a father.”
Ryan told his colleagues “that serving as speaker has been the professional honor of his life, and he thanked them for the trust they placed in him,” Buck said.
The speaker has also clashed with Trump.
Trump criticized Ryan’s legislative strategy, including the failed effort to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care plan. Ryan criticized some of Trump’s more intemperate remarks.
Contributing: Deirdre Shesgreen
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