Paul Ryan Won't Run for Senate

Paul Ryan will stick with the House. The budget wonk has decided against running for the retiring Herb Kohl's Senate seat in Wisconsin, Ryan tells the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "It would make no sense to leave where I am right now because I have such a bigger impact," says Ryan, whose budget plan figures to be a big part of the 2012 elections. The decision makes it more likely that former Gov. Tommy Thompson will seek the seat for Republicans, notes Politico. Democrats are looking toward former Sen. Russ Feingold, who has left open the possibility.

"I don't want to take myself out of this fight, and leave the fight and a leadership role I have at the moment America is going to make up its mind about what kind of country it's going to become," says Ryan, 41, who added that he doesn't want to remain in Congress for life. (More Paul Ryan stories.)