Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, on Thursday made it clear that he will not run for speaker shortly after House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) dropped out of the race.
“Kevin McCarthy is the 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,” he said in a statement. “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.”
Despite numerous House Republicans floating Ryan as a potential candidate for speaker, he has repeatedly declined to run.
After the 40-or-so member House Freedom Caucus endorsed McCarthy’s challenger, Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL), Ryan had been planning on giving a speech in support of McCarthy’s nomination for speaker on Thursday.