House Speaker Paul Ryan Announced His Retirement
The Wisconsin Republican will finish his current term but is not seeking reelection.
By Ella Cerón and Lucy Diavolo
US Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, Republican of Wisconsin, holds his weekly press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, March 22, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)SAUL LOEB
House Speaker Paul Ryan will not run for another term in office, according to a statement from his office on Wednesday, April 11. The word from Ryan's office confirmed an earlier Axios report that Ryan would not seek reelection for another term in Wisconsin's 1st congressional district. Ryan has been the district's representative in the House since 1999. (He became Speaker of the House in 2015.)
Ryan held a press conference to address his decision. During his remarks and in answers to questions from the press, he reminded reporters that he took the job as Speaker of the House reluctantly but wanted to "aim high" with his position. Ryan listed his biggest achievements as tax reform and his work as Speaker to "rebuild" the U.S. military, calling both "lasting victories." He said that at least in part, he was deciding to step down because his children are teenagers and he no longer wants to be a "weekend dad," and denied that the 2018 midterms played a role in his decision. He also deflected a question about whether or not President Donald Trump had impacted his decision, expressing gratitude to the president.
Ryan did not hint at his next moves beyond fatherhood. In response to a question from a reporter, he did say that he would keep fighting for "entitlement reform," though it was unclear if he meant with his remaining time as Speaker or after. Ryan confirmed that he will finish his current term through the run-up to the midterm elections and retire in January 2019.
"He will serve out his full term, run through the tape, and then retire in January," Ryan's adviser Brendan Buck said in a statement. "After nearly 20 years in the House, the Speaker is proud of all that has been accomplished and is ready to devote more of his time to being a husband and a father. While he did not seek the position, he 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. He will discuss his decision at a press conference immediately following the member meeting."
The news comes as the backlash against Ryan has increased to a fever pitch in the last year. In March, Wisconsin student protesters used the March for Our Lives as a kickoff point to march "50 Miles More" to Ryan's hometown, advocating for "common-sense gun reform." Their website criticized Ryan for having a "lead role in blocking and burying any chance of gun reform again and again."
Two of Ryan's would-be opponents in the congressional race, Randy Bryce and Cathy Myers, also made headlines last month when they were both arrested at a demonstration demanding lawmakers act on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) plan. About 20 adults participating in the demonstration were arrested; they were protesting alongside around 200 students.
Bryce's spokesperson told Teen Vogue that the demonstration "was really just meant to send a message that these Dreamers have been living in limbo far too long. Even the president imposed a March 5 deadline for Speaker Ryan and others in Congress to act, and they've just blown right by it. They haven't done anything."
Ryan has also been criticized for the Republican tax reform plan, which largely benefits the wealthy, to his views on Planned Parenthood and health care. In the past, students have refused to take photos with him.
Ryan has been famed for years for his conservative economic policies, and Twitter users quickly began to speculate about how he will fare in the private sector. Other speculated about what the retirement could mean for Ryan's political future and for the 2018 midterms. President Donald Trump tweeted about Ryan's decision to leave, though it is unclear if Ryan will read the message.
https://twitter.com/BenEncodes/status/984061280418869250
https://twitter.com/scott_tobias/status/984065538186989569
https://twitter.com/lsarsour/status/984065251116224512
https://twitter.com/kkondik/status/984060705304399873
https://twitter.com/JasonKander/status/984059393653211137
Related: Paul Ryan Was Among the Politicians Called Out for Not Attending Town Hall for Our Lives Events
Keywordspaul ryanhouse of representatives