Paul Ryan announces he won’t run for reelection

Paul Ryan announced he would not run for reelection after House Republicans’ weekly gathering on Wednesday, confirming months of speculation that his time in Washington was coming to an end. He will still serve the rest of his term.

Wisconsin Republicans have until June 1 to announce a bid for his seat. The primary will be held on August 14, 2018. Democrats Randy Bryce and Cathy Myers are already eyeing the R+5 district, which stretches from Janesville to Kenosha, hoping to turn it blue. Ryan’s retirement will likely give them a better chance.

Ryan’s departure has been fodder for congressional chatter for months, ever since Politico’s Tim Alberta reported that in interviews with “three dozen people who know the speaker — fellow lawmakers, congressional and administration aides, conservative intellectuals and Republican lobbyists — not a single person believed Ryan will stay in Congress past 2018.” Until now, Ryan and his office had denied all reports.