In their continuing quest to find someone to fill the soon-to-be-unoccupied Speaker of the House role, Republicans in Congress are attempting to push Paul Ryan into taking the gig, according to the New York Times.
Ryan ran for vice president in 2012 on the losing Mitt Romney ticket and currently chairs the House Ways and Means Committee. In the past, he firmly said he didn't want the speaker job.
John Boehner has resigned, and will formally leave Congress when a new speaker is found, as previously reported by HNGN. Boehner originally planned to leave at the end of October.
Kevin McCarthy seemed to be the heir apparent to the speaker's chair, but unexpectedly dropped out of the running.
"I've got no news for you," said Ryan when asked about becoming speaker, according to CNN.
"Chairman Ryan appreciates the support he's getting from his colleagues, but is still not running for speaker," said Ryan spokesperson Brendan Buck, according to Fox News.
Both Jason Chaffetz and Daniel Webster, representatives from Utah and Florida respectively, officially declared their intentions to run for Speaker. Darrell Issa and Lynn Westmoreland said they may also run for the position.
"I've talked with Paul Ryan. He's talking to people. I think he'd make a great speaker," said McCarthy.
