Ryan seeks unity from GOP to run
WASHINGTON — Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan is seeking unity in a place it’s rarely found, telling House Republicans he will serve as their speaker only if they embrace him by week’s end as their consensus candidate.
It’s a big “if” for a House GOP that’s careened from one crisis to another in recent years, with a compromise-averse band of hard-liners forcing a partial government shutdown two years ago, ultimately driving out the current House speaker, and scaring off his No. 2.
That left Ryan, the GOP’s 2012 vice presidential nominee, to get dragged reluctantly into seeking a job he never wanted. As he announced late Tuesday that he would seek the speakership, Ryan made clear he would do so only with the endorsement of the major caucuses of the House, including the hardline Freedom Caucus.
That’s the group whose threats against Speaker John Boehner pushed him to announce he would resign by month’s end and forced Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to abruptly drop his campaign to replace him.
Coming days will tell if Ryan can win their support or become their latest victim.
“What I told members is if you can agree to these requests and if I can truly be a unifying figure, then I will gladly serve, and if I am not unifying, that is fine as well — I will be happy to stay where I am,” Ryan said.
The 45-year-old Ryan gave his colleagues until Friday to express their support. Members of the Freedom Caucus quickly made clear they remained to be convinced.
“I think he has to campaign for it. We’ve heard one speech,” said Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa. “We’re willing to listen but it’s the beginning of the conversation as far as I’m concerned.”
“I think there are other candidates in this race, and I want to hear what they have to say,” said another Freedom Caucus member, Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado.
The other candidates, nearly a dozen, all lack Ryan’s stature and broad support and it’s not clear if any of them could gather the needed backing to become speaker.
