Paul Ryan's surprise decision to announce his retirement from Congress before the midterms now raises one big question: Will Republicans allow him to remain as House speaker through the end of his term or try to get a new leader in place as quickly as possible? Politico, for instance, reports that some senior Republicans already are agitating for him to step down as speaker, arguing that the party can't afford to have a lame-duck leader in place at such a crucial time. “We would have more success if there’s no ambiguity as to what the leadership structure might look like,” says Rep. Tom Graves, who wants an early vote to replace Ryan. Notably, Graves is a close ally of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House majority leader, who is seen as a likely successor. Related coverage:
- By summer? A post at Axios suggests that Ryan could be out of his leadership post by the end of July. It's not so much about fundraising concerns, a formidable Ryan strength, as it is about "certainty and stability."