Former vice presidential nominee, Wisconsin Congressman and Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Paul Ryan has already made it clear he has no interest in running for Speaker of the House. Despite Ryan's objection, the pressure is building by the hour for him to get into the race and according to reporting from Capitol Hill this morning, Rep. Jason Chaffetz is willing to drop out should Ryan choose to jump in.
.@jasoninthehouse says that he would "obviously" support @RepPaulRyan in a speaker race and would drop out if he gets in.
— Meredith Shiner (@meredithshiner) October 9, 2015Ryan endorsed House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy here at Townhall over the weekend and issued the following statement yesterday when McCarthy withdrew from the race.
“Kevin McCarthy is best person to lead the House, and so I’m disappointed in this decision. Now it is important that we, as a Conference, take time to deliberate and seek new candidates for the speakership. While I am grateful for the encouragement I’ve received, I will not be a candidate. I continue to believe I can best serve the country and this conference as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee,” Ryan said.
At this point, signals and sources are mixed on whether Ryan has changed his mind about running.
"Nope," Tom Cole says on whether Paul Ryan gave any indication he's changing his mind on speakership.
— Meredith Shiner (@meredithshiner) October 9, 2015Regardless, as our friends at The Corner point out, Ryan is being dragged kicking and screaming into the chaos.
The only Republican who does not want Paul Ryan to become the next House speaker, it seems, is Paul Ryan. But the former vice-presidential nominee and chairman of the Ways and Means Committee may be changing his mind. After issuing a statement immediately following House majority leader Kevin McCarthy’s withdrawal from the race reiterating that he will not seek the job, multiple sources tell National Review that Ryan is, at the very least, considering a change of heart.
“I’m told he’ll sleep on it,” says a source close to Ryan.
Two additional Republican sources say Ryan has in fact already made up his mind to jump in the race.
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Yesterday Speaker John Boehner, who will stay in his position until a new Speaker is elected, said he is confident someone will be chosen as his replacement within the coming weeks.
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