House Speaker Paul Ryan? John Boehner Asks Wisconsin Republican To Head GOP

After House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., abruptly dropped out of the race for speaker Thursday, current House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, asked Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan to run for his position, the Washington Post's Robert Costa tweeted.

BREAKING: BOEHNER IS PERSONALLY ASKING RYAN TO STEP UP AND BE SPEAKER, have spoken twice today by phone...
— Robert Costa (@costareports) October 8, 2015

Earlier in the day, Ryan had said he would not be running for speaker, as he has vowed often before, despite other Republicans urging him to do so. Ryan is currently chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, one of the most powerful in Congress. After McCarthy dropped out, Reps. Jason Chaffetz of Utah and Daniel Webster of Florida remain in the race.

Boehner has told Ryan that he is the only person who can unite GOP at this crisis moment. Ryan undecided but listening, per sources
— Robert Costa (@costareports) October 8, 2015

Costa also tweeted that McCarthy is saying "behind scenes" that Ryan is his pick for speaker.

Boehner left the mtg. today, met with aides & inner circle, and said "It has to be Ryan" to end the GOP strife, per sources
— Robert Costa (@costareports) October 8, 2015

Boehner to Ryan, pitching the W&M chair, per sources: if you really want to change policy, do it from top. You can be a policy guy/healer...
— Robert Costa (@costareports) October 8, 2015

Fox News contributor Guy Benson also tweeted that Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, who is chairman of the special committee investigating the Benghazi affair, is urging Ryan to reconsider.

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