House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., endorsed House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., to fill his shoes following his departure early next January, according to a report published Friday evening.
“We all think Kevin is the right person,” Ryan told NBC’s “Meet the Press” in an interview taped Friday that is set to air Sunday.
The endorsement comes hours after House Freedom Caucus co-founder Jim Jordan floated the idea of running a third time for the speakership. He received one vote for the position in January 2015 and two votes again in January 2017.
“Paul Ryan’s the speaker. There is no speaker’s race. If and when there is, I’m open to running,” Jordan, an Ohio Republican, told the Washington Examiner.
Although it’s unlikely Jordan could secure the votes, the issue itself could further divide the GOP, and Ryan said he wants to keep the party in tact as he signs off.
“All these other things would be needless distractions from the task at hand” of passing bills and “fighting for our majority,” Ryan added.
Ryan said McCarthy has the votes necessary to secure the top post when he departs in eight and a half months, assuming Republicans maintain their majority in the lower chamber.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise. R-La., has stated he will not run for the job if McCarthy, a long-time friend, wants it. The only chance Scalise would go for it would be if McCarthy did not have the votes from rank-and-file members.
Ryan unexpectedly announced this week that he will not run for another term in November.
