Washington — House Speaker Paul Ryan announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election in November, dealing a blow to Republican efforts to keep their majority in the House and setting in motion a GOP leadership battle to succeed him.
Ryan, who has served as speaker for less than three years, said he had accomplished "big things" and did not want his three teenage children in Wisconsin to know him as a "weekend dad."
"This year will be my last one as a member of the House," Ryan told reporters after delivering the surprising news to his GOP colleagues in a closed-door meeting. "I will be retiring in January, leaving this majority in good hands with what I believe is a very bright future."
Ryan said he would remain as speaker through the end of this year, even as jockeying begins to replace him. He dismissed questions about whether he was leaving because he fears Democrats will win control of the House in the 2018 elections.
"I have accomplished much of what I came here to do, and my kids aren’t getting any younger," said Ryan, a 10-term congressman who became speaker in 2015 after Ohio Republican John Boehner abruptly announced his resignation. "If I stay they’re only going to know me as a weekend dad."
Ryan, 48, said his biggest accomplishments were the tax cut law President Trump signed in December and a budget agreement in February that sharply increased funding for the military. Asked about the spiraling deficits created by the tax cut in particular, Ryan said he wished he could have added another longtime priority to his accomplishment list: curbing Medicare and other entitlement programs.
Trump, who has had an on-again, off-again relationship with the speaker, tweeted out praise on Wednesday: "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 was the 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee on Mitt Romney's ticket, and he was considered a potential 2016 presidential candidate but opted not to run. Romney praised Ryan on Twitter for stepping into the speakership at a critical time.
"He unified the House, passed scores of bills, and led with integrity, honor and dignity," Romney wrote. "The country will miss Speaker Ryan."
During the 2016 election, Ryan chastised Trump over his racially tinged comments and his crude remarks about women, caught on an “Access Hollywood" tape. On Wednesday, Ryan denied discomfort with the direction that Trump was taking the Republican Party was a factor in his decision to retire.
"Not at all," Ryan said. "I’m grateful to the president for giving us this opportunity to do big things ... It makes me satisfied that I’ve made a big difference, and he’s given us that chance."
Ryan's announcement, although rumored for months, still caught many Republicans by surprise on Wednesday. But GOP lawmakers said they understood his decision.
"He is answering a higher calling, and that is to his family," said Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C. "The wear and tear of his position is something that none of us can actually relate to and we respect him for making a tough decision, leaving a pinnacle of power to do what a dad needs to do."
Ryan's retirement could create a void in the Republican leadership ranks as the party heads into a tough election cycle that will determine control of the House and Senate.
Democrats hailed Ryan's retirement as a sign that he knows GOP will take big losses.
“Stay tuned for more retirements as Republicans increasingly realize that their midterm prospects are doomed," said Tyler Law, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Ryan's announcement is likely to set off a battle for Republican leadership in the House, a contest that will not be decided until after the November elections. Possible replacements include Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., now Ryan's second-in-command, and Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., now the third-ranking House member.
Scalise downplayed speculation in an appearance on Fox News before Ryan's announcement.
"A lot of people are saying, ‘What are they going to run for next year,’ but it really becomes irrelevant if [Democrat] Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the House," Scalise said. "And clearly that’s what she’s intending on doing and they’re raising a lot of money on their side. We need to make sure we hold the House."
Ryan was a fiscal conservative, but his efforts to be a more pragmatic leader led to conflicts with hard-liners in the GOP conference. Members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus griped that Ryan was too quick to compromise with Democrats.
Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows, R-N.C., said it was not clear if Ryan would be able to serve out the remainder of the year as leader while his top deputies were angling to succeed him.
“I think the next few weeks will determine whether that happens or not," Meadows said. "Everyone will start jockeying for position immediately. They won’t wait for 9 months.”
Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Penn., said it was too early to talk about who would replace Ryan.
“The bigger issue right now is just trying to maintain the majority,” said Dent, who is retiring this year. He said Republicans face a “toxic” environment this year but the midterms were never going to be about Ryan. Instead, he said, it would be more of a referendum on President Trump. “This is going to be a challenging year.”
Contributing: Eliza Collins, Marilyn Icsman
