The three most important Republicans in Washington have each in their own way signaled qualms about their Capitol Hill majorities.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is the latest with his announcement that he is not seeking re-election. While family was a major motivating factor in Ryan’s decision, it was a not a vote of confidence in his party’s ability to retain him the speaker’s gavel — and the timing was not conducive to Republicans’ 2018 midterm electoral fortunes.