House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) officially entered the race for Speaker of the House Thursday evening.
Politico reported, “Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan said he is ‘eager’ to be the Speaker of the House, and he believes the House Republican Conference is ‘ready to move forward as one, united team.'”
His decision comes after two conservative House groups showed support for Ryan this week.
The Republican Study Committee endorsed him, while the House Freedom Caucus didn’t officially endorse but said a supermajority supported Ryan.
The House Freedom Caucus had previously endorsed Rep. Dan Webster (R-FL) for Speaker of he House. Webster is still an official candidate in the race with Ryan for Speaker.
Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) set the election for the conference to nominate a Speaker of the House for next Wednesday.
The full House must get to 218 votes to officially elect a new Speaker of the House, the vote on which is set for next Thursday.