House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan will not run for re-election this November, casting further doubt about Republican’s ability to maintain control of the House during midterm elections.

Ryan announced he is retiring during a press conference on Wednesday, following months of rumors he planned to leave Congress.

President Donald Trump reacted to the news on Twitter calling Ryan a ” truly good man” who will leave a “legacy of achievement that nobody can question.”

The Republican from Wisconsin has been Speaker of the House since 2015. He began serving in the House in 1999.

Brendan Buck, the counselor to the speaker, said in a statement that Ryan will “serve out his full term, run through the tape, and then retire in January.”
He said Ryan is proud of what he has accomplished in the House of Representatives and is ready to devote more time to being a husband and father.

Ryan accomplished a long-held goal in December when Congress passed a sweeping tax reform legislation.

Ryan became House leader his predecessor John Boehner departed under pressure from conservatives. [xyz-ihs snippet=”Adsense-responsive”]
Tensions within his own party continued under Ryan’s tenure, with Republicans unable to repeal and replace the Obama-era Affordable Care Act, a key promise by President Donald Trump’s during his presidential campaign.

Ryan’s relationship with Trump has also been uneasy at times, though the speaker and White House have also worked together to push forward the Republican’s conservative agenda.

Source: VOA

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