Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan will not run for re-election, people close to the Wisconsin lawmaker said Wednesday.
Ryan’s plans have been the source of much speculation amid Republican concerns over keeping their majority in the House of Representatives. Ryan had made tax cuts a centerpiece of his legislative agenda, and Congress delivered on that late last year.
Two people with knowledge of Ryan’s thinking said he has decided against seeking another term, but they did not say why. Both sought anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Ryan, a Republican from Janesville, Wisconsin, was first elected to Congress in 1998 and became speaker in 2015 after former House Speaker John Boehner retired. He was former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s running mate in 2012.
President Donald Trump says that while Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan has decided not to run for re-election, Ryan leaves a "legacy of achievement."
Trump says on Twitter 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!’
Ryan announced his plans at a closed-door meeting of House Republicans Wednesday morning. Ryan spokesman Brendan Buck said in a statement that Ryan was proud of his achievements and ready to focus on his family. Buck said Ryan will serve out his term and retire in January.
Ryan’s plans add to GOP uncertainty as Republicans face worries over losing their majority in the fall.
