Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has announced this will be his last year in Congress.
Ryan made the bombshell announcement Wednesday morning.
Rumors persisted over the last few months, but nothing seemed imminent-that changed on Wednesday.
According to Politico:
“Speaker Paul Ryan announced Wednesday that he will not seek another term in Congress, ending what will be a three-year run as the Republican leader and creating a power vacuum in the GOP ranks heading into a punishing midterm election.
The Wisconsin Republican — who was drafted into the position in 2015 after conservatives ran John Boehner (R-Ohio) out of office — said he intended to serve out his term as speaker but wanted more time with his family.
Sources familiar with his decision say Ryan has made clear this will be his last job in politics. If that holds, it would end Ryan’s rise from a House staffer to vice presidential nominee and then speaker. Before Donald Trump won in 2016, Ryan was seen as a likely White House contender in 2020.
“You all know that I did not seek this job. I took it reluctantly,” Ryan told reporters at a press conference. “But I have given it all that I have and have no regrets having accepted this responsibility. This has been one of the two greatest honors of my life.”
