Republicans in disarray as speaker Ryan quits for his family
UNITED STATES: Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, has announced that he will not be seeking re-election in November, in a blow to Republican confidence ahead of the race.
The departure of Ryan, 48, the most senior Republican in the House and the party’s biggest fundraiser, is the most prominent in a series of retirements among the party in recent months.
He denied that the party’s uphill battle to maintain control of Capitol Hill had driven his decision, saying he was relinquishing his role to spend more time with his wife and three children.
‘‘I have been a member of Congress for almost two decades. My kids weren’t even born when I was elected,’’ Ryan said yesterday.
‘‘What I realise is, if I’m here for one more term, my kids will only have ever known me as a weekend dad. I just can’t let that happen, so I will be setting new priorities in my life.’’
Some will see Ryan’s retirement as a sign of the uncertainty over whether the party can maintain control of the House in November’s midterm elections.
More than 40 Republican representatives are leaving the chamber, and Ryan’s departure is likely to have an impact on the party’s morale. Just weeks ago, Eric Cantor, the former House majority leader and a friend of Ryan, said: ‘‘The notion that Paul Ryan is just going to abdicate and leave is preposterous . . . it would be a signal of surrender.’’
The Wisconsin representative has been a prolific fundraiser for the GOP, bringing in more than US$54 million (NZ$73m) in donations for the 2018 midterms, and some fear he may now slow down his efforts before his departure in January 2019.
His exit may also trigger a civil war between Republicans for the cherished role of House leader, with Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise, Ryan’s deputies, reported to be engaged in a silent struggle.
Once referred to as America’s most popular Republican, Ryan got off to a rocky start with US President Donald Trump, distancing himself from the businessman and reality TV star when he was a presidential candidate. In the end, he opted to put the party above his personal views.
Just before the 2016 election, Ryan confirmed he had voted for ‘‘our candidate’’, choosing not to refer to Trump by name.
However, in office he worked closely with the Trump administration to deliver the Republican tax bill last December, for which the president expressed his gratitude.
Trump tweeted yesterday: ‘‘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 has enjoyed a 20-year career in Congress since he was first elected to the House in 1998. Despite claiming he ‘‘did not want’’ the job of speaker, he got it in 2015 when John Boehner, his predecessor, retired suddenly.
Boehner had struggled to control the chamber’s restless conservative wing, and Ryan has had more trust with the GOP hardliners in the House.
Ryan has been touted as a future presidential candidate, given his relative youth and his national name recognition after running alongside Mitt Romney in the 2012 election.
Political pundits have speculated on whether Ryan’s retirement might be paving the way for a presidential bid. They noted that he had not ruled out a future career in politics, saying instead, ‘‘This year will be my last one as a member of the House’’, and outlining the work still to be done.
Representative Nancy Pelosi, his Democratic counterpart, paid tribute to Ryan. ‘‘The speaker has been an avid advocate for his point of view and for the people of his district,’’ she said. ‘‘Despite our differences, I commend his steadfast commitment to our country.’’
Ryan had been heading towards the decision since late last year, said a person familiar with his thinking, but as recently as February he had considered running for another term.
His father died suddenly of a heart attack when Ryan was 16, and though Ryan is in good health, the distance from his family weighed on him. A final decision was made over the two-week congressional recess, which he partly spent on a family vacation in the Czech Republic.
While his plans are uncertain once he steps down in January, Ryan has long said being speaker would be his last job in elected office.
Others have suggested that an ideal job for the policy wonk could be running a think tank, noting that the leader of the conservative American Enterprise Institute recently announced he would be stepping down.
– Telegraph Group, AP