REPORT: Paul Ryan eyes retirement after 2018 midterms; Ryan's office denies

Greg P. | 12:56 PM on December 14, 2017

Breaking news from Politico:

BREAKING: @SpeakerRyan sees his time in Washington coming to a close at the end of this Congress. W/@TimAlberta https://t.co/NFDg0xnUwP

— Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) December 14, 2017

According to the report, Ryan wants to “serve through Election day 2018 and retire ahead of the next Congress”:

Scoop (and #longform) w/ @rachaelmbade: Paul Ryan wants to retire at the end of this Congress, and here's why it makes perfect sense:https://t.co/HBOOjxtGD6 pic.twitter.com/KxU530FhXd

— Tim Alberta (@TimAlberta) December 14, 2017

Ryan’s office issued this denial:

https://twitter.com/kevincorke/status/941364459888631814

But it’s not really a denial-denial:

https://twitter.com/emilyjashinsky/status/941364688612397056

https://twitter.com/kevincorke/status/941365088103157761

Is this really that unexpected?

https://twitter.com/SethAMandel/status/941361544193101824

Or is Ryan afraid that the GOP will get wiped out in 2018 anyway:

#BREAKING: House Speaker Paul Ryan considering retirement after he no longer gets to be Speaker of the House https://t.co/4Qb6Km0sqx

— Dennis DiClaudio (@dennisdiclaudio) December 14, 2017

As for what comes next in his district, there’s Dem challenger Randy Bryce who’s been raising money since the Jones victory in Alabama:

Paul Ryan doesn't think he can beat us. He's scared because of you.

More than 55,000 people have stepped up and contributed to our campaign to repeal and replace Paul Ryan. Have you? >>https://t.co/XGFhF74Xbl https://t.co/yXn4dYggHN

— Randy Bryce (@IronStache) December 14, 2017