Will 2018 be Speaker Paul Ryan's swan song?
According to a report by Politico, the Wisconsin Republican is considering walking away from Congress after his term is up in 2018.
Despite several landmark legislative wins this year, and a better-than-expected relationship with President Donald Trump, Ryan has made it known to some of his closest confidants that this will be his final term as speaker. He consults a small crew of family, friends and staff for career advice, and is always cautious not to telegraph his political maneuvers. But the expectation of his impending departure has escaped the hushed confines of Ryan’s inner circle and permeated the upper-most echelons of the GOP. In recent interviews with three dozen people who know the speaker—fellow lawmakers, congressional and administration aides, conservative intellectuals and Republican lobbyists—not a single person believed Ryan will stay in Congress past 2018. -- Politico
Ryan denied he was walking away when asked at an event Thursday morning, and his press secretary, Ashlee Strong, tweeted that it was "pure speculation," and that "he’s not going anywhere any time soon.”
First, quote me: “This is pure speculation. As the speaker himself said today, he’s not going anywhere any time soon.” Next, check @BrendanBuck's twitter feed for better re/ax.
— AshLee Strong (@AshLeeStrong) December 14, 2017
Ryan, 47, has served in his role since October 2015 after John Boehner retired from Congress. The retirement would take place after the 2018 midterm elections, Politico reported.
